In memory of
Patricia Sumiye Adachi
August 8, 1920 - May 17, 2026
Patricia Sumiye Adachi (née Kawashiri) peacefully passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Scarborough Retirement Residence (SRR).
Pat’s philosophy: “Continuously develop yourself so you can have fun with others while you make a positive difference in this world.”
Born on August 8, 1920, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Pat was the elder of two daughters born to Iwaichi and Ryu Kawashiri. Pat attended Vancouver’s Central School and was raised in the city’s vibrant prewar Japanese Canadian community, where her family operated rooming houses in the heart of the historic Little Tokyo neighbourhood. Alongside her younger sister, Marie, she grew up within walking distance of the grounds where her father took her to watch her beloved Vancouver Asahi Baseball Team play.
In 1942, like more than 22,000 Japanese Canadians, Pat and her family were uprooted and interned during the Second World War. The exceptional Asahi sportsmen lifted community spirit as they successfully competed against Caucasian players not only in the 1920's and 1930's but in British Columbia internment camps in the 1940's. The experience shaped Pat’s lifelong commitment to preserve the dignity, history, and resilience of the Japanese Canadian community.
Following internment, Pat and her beloved husband, Harry, raised four children in Toronto. Dennis, the eldest, is married to Mary, and together they have a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Gord. Dale, the eldest daughter, was married to her late husband, Joe, and later found companionship with her partner, Kip. Two younger daughters, Kathy and Shen, both reside in Toronto.
While Pat was a grateful recipient of numerous awards and commendations, it was her curiosity, initiative, and ability to inspire others that were especially noteworthy. Through self-initiated computer studies, she impressed an IBM software engineer to develop an accounting program for her use. Pat then trained management and staff, helping an entire Bell Canada department where she worked, transition from manual to computerized record-keeping.
At the age of 72, Pat undertook the monumental task of documenting the largely forgotten story of the Vancouver Asahi baseball team. Through her books, Asahi: A Legend in Baseball (1992) and Road to the Pinnacle (2004), Pat helped ensure the team’s legacy—and the broader story of the Japanese Canadian community—would never be forgotten.
Pat generously shared her research, archival materials, photographs, interviews, and personal connections with historians, filmmakers, writers, museums, and community organizations. Her dedication helped inspire documentaries, books, museum exhibitions, commemorative projects, and the films Sleeping Tigers: The Asahi Baseball Story (2002) and The Vancouver Asahi (2014), ensuring the team’s story reached new generations both in Canada and abroad. Through Pat’s tireless efforts, the story of the Vancouver Asahi came to be recognized as an important part of Canadian history. Museum exhibitions, commemorative stamps, and cultural works educate and inspire.
Her contributions helped lead to the Vancouver Asahi being inducted into both the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (2003) and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame (2005). In 2016, the Governor General of Canada presented Pat with a Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to preserving Japanese Canadian history and heritage.
A strong supporter of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre since its inception, Pat also served on its Board of Directors for three years. With Tottori Kenjinkai, an association for immigrants and descendants of the Tottori Prefecture, Pat wrote the book Teaching in Canadian Exile: A History of the Schools for Japanese Canadian Children in British Columbia Detention Camps During the Second World War (2001).
Pat encouraged and inspired others until her final days. Many Gosei (fifth-generation Japanese Canadians) expressed how deeply their cultural development had been influenced by her. She led fun exercise classes during the Covid-19 pandemic at McCowan Retirement Residence and was interviewed at Momiji Health Centre, which served as an inspiration for others. Fred Lafontaine, the founder of Scarborough Retirement Residence, currently 102 years young, stated that he was inspired by Pat’s perseverance. Before her final moments, Pat reminded her children to replace tears with strength and laughter.
A private family gathering will be held in Pat’s honour at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.
In keeping with Pat’s generous spirit, those wishing to make a donation in her memory are invited to support an organization meaningful to them.
Pat’s philosophy: “Continuously develop yourself so you can have fun with others while you make a positive difference in this world.”
Born on August 8, 1920, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Pat was the elder of two daughters born to Iwaichi and Ryu Kawashiri. Pat attended Vancouver’s Central School and was raised in the city’s vibrant prewar Japanese Canadian community, where her family operated rooming houses in the heart of the historic Little Tokyo neighbourhood. Alongside her younger sister, Marie, she grew up within walking distance of the grounds where her father took her to watch her beloved Vancouver Asahi Baseball Team play.
In 1942, like more than 22,000 Japanese Canadians, Pat and her family were uprooted and interned during the Second World War. The exceptional Asahi sportsmen lifted community spirit as they successfully competed against Caucasian players not only in the 1920's and 1930's but in British Columbia internment camps in the 1940's. The experience shaped Pat’s lifelong commitment to preserve the dignity, history, and resilience of the Japanese Canadian community.
Following internment, Pat and her beloved husband, Harry, raised four children in Toronto. Dennis, the eldest, is married to Mary, and together they have a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Gord. Dale, the eldest daughter, was married to her late husband, Joe, and later found companionship with her partner, Kip. Two younger daughters, Kathy and Shen, both reside in Toronto.
While Pat was a grateful recipient of numerous awards and commendations, it was her curiosity, initiative, and ability to inspire others that were especially noteworthy. Through self-initiated computer studies, she impressed an IBM software engineer to develop an accounting program for her use. Pat then trained management and staff, helping an entire Bell Canada department where she worked, transition from manual to computerized record-keeping.
At the age of 72, Pat undertook the monumental task of documenting the largely forgotten story of the Vancouver Asahi baseball team. Through her books, Asahi: A Legend in Baseball (1992) and Road to the Pinnacle (2004), Pat helped ensure the team’s legacy—and the broader story of the Japanese Canadian community—would never be forgotten.
Pat generously shared her research, archival materials, photographs, interviews, and personal connections with historians, filmmakers, writers, museums, and community organizations. Her dedication helped inspire documentaries, books, museum exhibitions, commemorative projects, and the films Sleeping Tigers: The Asahi Baseball Story (2002) and The Vancouver Asahi (2014), ensuring the team’s story reached new generations both in Canada and abroad. Through Pat’s tireless efforts, the story of the Vancouver Asahi came to be recognized as an important part of Canadian history. Museum exhibitions, commemorative stamps, and cultural works educate and inspire.
Her contributions helped lead to the Vancouver Asahi being inducted into both the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (2003) and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame (2005). In 2016, the Governor General of Canada presented Pat with a Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to preserving Japanese Canadian history and heritage.
A strong supporter of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre since its inception, Pat also served on its Board of Directors for three years. With Tottori Kenjinkai, an association for immigrants and descendants of the Tottori Prefecture, Pat wrote the book Teaching in Canadian Exile: A History of the Schools for Japanese Canadian Children in British Columbia Detention Camps During the Second World War (2001).
Pat encouraged and inspired others until her final days. Many Gosei (fifth-generation Japanese Canadians) expressed how deeply their cultural development had been influenced by her. She led fun exercise classes during the Covid-19 pandemic at McCowan Retirement Residence and was interviewed at Momiji Health Centre, which served as an inspiration for others. Fred Lafontaine, the founder of Scarborough Retirement Residence, currently 102 years young, stated that he was inspired by Pat’s perseverance. Before her final moments, Pat reminded her children to replace tears with strength and laughter.
A private family gathering will be held in Pat’s honour at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.
In keeping with Pat’s generous spirit, those wishing to make a donation in her memory are invited to support an organization meaningful to them.