Etsu Mineta Masaoka passed away on June 2. She was 94. Masaoka was the wife of the late Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) leader Mike Masaoka. She was also the sister of former U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta, founder of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS).

In lieu of flowers, her family asked for contributions to be made to Chevy Chase United Methodist Church, Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA), or the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL).

Jim Park, APAICS Chair, relayed “our heartfelt condolences to Norm Mineta and his family.” The JACL “deeply mourns the passing of Etsu Mineta Masaoka, a dedicated member of the JACL…Etsu devoted her life to the causes that were important to her husband, Mike Masaoka, and to her. Our deepest condolences go out to the Mineta, Masaoka, and Amano families.”