Gerald Oyabe, 87, Mercer Island Business Owner, Internee

MERCER ISLAND, WA - Longtime Mercer Island business owner Gerald Jiro Oyabe died on May 14 at age 87 after a struggle with cancer. Oyabe was born March 20, 1930 in Seattle, and was later the owner of Gerald's Hair Design, with locations on Mercer Island and in Bellevue. Oyabe was also among the thousands of Puget Sound Japanese forced into internment camps during World War II.

Oyabe and his family, including parents Joseph and Ruth, entered internment in 1942 and spent time in camps in Minidoa, Idaho, and Tule Lake, Calif. He returned to Seattle in 1945 and graduated from Franklin High School. Oyabe later studied cosmetology, which led him to open Gerald's Hair Design on Mercer Island in the 1960s. He opened a second location in Bellevue, and was the owner of the Bellevue Beauty School.

Oyabe was active in the cosmetology profession, acting as an examiner for the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), which certifies cosmetology arts and sciences students.

In his free time, Oyabe had a number of interests, and was an enthusiastic golfer. He was a member of the Meridian Valley Country Club, Blue Phantom Golf Club, and the Bellevue Club. Oyabe loved fishing, the Seahawks, hunting mushrooms, and listening to jazz.

Oyabe is survived by his wife, Gail, son, Glenn, daughter, Gia, granddaughters Mika and Amaya, sister-in-law Arlene Oki, and nieces and nephews.

There will be a celebration of life for Oyabe at the Bellevue Club on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Keiro Northwest.

Image via Glenn Oyabe