Fred Yaichio Hoshiyama, a hero and a legend to both the YMCA and the Japanese American community, passed away on November 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, just one week shy of his 101st birthday.
A year ago, about 150 friends, relatives, and associates of Hoshiyama celebrated his 100th birthday at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.
“They say that the first century is the hardest, so I’m looking forward to my second century… I hope to see you all there at that time,” he told the gathering.
Born on December 7, 1914 at a YMCA community for Japanese immigra…