Roy Kalman Zukerman passed away of natural causes on October 17, 2023 in Cochise County, Arizona at the age of 91. Roy enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Signal Corps, where he learned Morse code and operated radios in Japan during the Korean War. There he learned how to use and operate amateur radio, now commonly known as amateur radio, and turned communication into a lifelong hobby. During his time in Japan, he found love: His life began with the beautiful Mitsue Kezuka, whom he married (after working in red tape in the US military). Mitsue was his bride of 66 years until his death in November 2020. After returning to the United States, Roy and Mitsue settled in Southern California, specifically Orange County, where Roy worked as a reporter for the Orange County Register. . He was assigned to the Beat Court and wrote and reported on criminal and civil cases pending in Orange County Superior Court. This experience aroused in him a burning desire to study law. In 1960, Roy began studying law at Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California, graduating summa cum laude and receiving his Juris Doctorate in August 1964. He was admitted to the California Bar as an attorney in 1965 and opened his own office in Westminster. He then moved to Fountain Valley, where he worked for 10 years before becoming general counsel for National Bank, retiring from that position after 30 years of service. After his retirement, he joined the Los Angeles law firm of Jose Mariano Castillo as an “attorney at law,” where he handled international civil matters and assisted the Los Angeles and Orange County Superior Courts as a volunteer temporary attorney. . Roy and Mitsue are survived by two children, Deborah Lynn Doyle of Arizona and Nathaniel Tomiki Zukerman of Virginia; their grandchildren, Tabitha Erin Scallan, Samuel Merritt Kikugiro Doyle, Jennifer Zukerman and Diane Zukerman; and four great-grandchildren, Eva Doyle and Eli Doyle, Joseph Scarlan and Waylen Scarlan. Roy also leaves behind his loving companion, Sally Sussman, with whom he spent the past few years. Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Diane Zuckerman; his siblings, Connie, Kay and Neil; And “wife” Mitsue. During his lifetime, Roy enjoyed amateur radio and was a licensed operator who provided voluntary communications in emergencies. He belonged to the Kiwanis organization and loved reading to children in libraries and schools. Roy and Mitsue traveled to the western half of America with their children, and later traveled to Japan, Europe, Mexico, Honduras, and other countries with his daughter and friends. A celebration of life will be held on February 18th in Playa Vista, California. , 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Roy's ashes will be buried alongside his bride in Sierra Vista, Arizona, on March 3, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Southwestern University School of Law General Scholarship Fund in his memory and the school's funding of other deserving individuals. Students will have the opportunity to excel. To RSVP for the Celebration of Life, please contact Maria at 213-622-6555 or mromero@castilolaw.com.
