Alice Fumiyo Kasai, for many decades an advocate of peace and friendship among peoples, died Jan. 6, 2007, in Salt Lake City.
She was born in Seattle on Sept. 17, 1916, and she and her family later moved to Utah. She graduated from Carbon High School, Price, in 1935, and married Henry Y. Kasai in 1937. They lived in Salt Lake City.
During World War II, Henry Kasai was arrested and sent to an internment camp for Japanese community leaders in the United States. During this 2 1/2 year ordeal, Mrs. Kasai led the Japanese American Citizens League in Salt Lake City. Her home became a headquarters for the league, where she helped coordinate help for families in relocation camps.
After World War II, the couple worked to win citizenship rights for Japanese who were not born in this country, including Henry Kasai. After he became a citizen, her activism continued with many civil rights issues. The two helped launch the Sister City Project between Salt Lake City and Matsumoto, Japan.
Mr. Kasai died in 1966 and she continued to press for peace and harmony. She worked with the NAACP, the Utah United Nations, the Council on Aging, Asian Association of Utah, Salt Lake County Aging Services Advisory Council, PTA, Meals on Wheels, and other groups.
In 1983 she earned a medallion for 60 years of service with the Japanese American Citizens League.
Graveside services will be Tuesday, 1 p.m., at Redwood Memorial Cemetery, 6500 S. Redwood Road. A memorial service is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14, Deseret Memorial Mortuary, 36 E. 700 South.