MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 2, 2022
Title
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners honoring the life of Gloria Hisako Tamura Morita
Body
WHEREAS, Gloria Hisako Tamura Morita was born on September 2, 1924 to Jinjiro and Toku Tamura. Mrs. Morita grew up on a strawberry farm in Sacramento, California with her three siblings: Richard (Dick), Setsuko (Sets), and Akira (Alvin); and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Morita was recognized as being an excellent student, completing her high school education early and enrolling in community college courses before she officially graduated from high school; and
WHEREAS, however, Mrs. Morita never had the chance to participate in her high school graduation. Due to World War II (War) and the issuance of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the committal of families of Japanese descent on the West Coast, she and her family were evacuated to Tule Lake Internment Camp (Internment Camp); and
WHEREAS, although discouraged, Mrs. Morita was not deterred. Utilizing her intelligence and her perseverance, Mrs. Morita was able to earn an early release from the Internment Camp after finding work as an au pair for a family in Chicago. She later found employment as a secretary for a publishing company located on the esteemed Michigan Avenue, which was no small feat given the anti-Japanese discrimination that existed following the War; and
WHEREAS, after establishing herself in Chicago, Mrs. Morita was able to reunite her family by having them join her. The family settled in the Uptown neighborhood. It was here that she met her future husband William (Bill) Morita, a United States army soldier; and
WHEREAS, on July 2, 1945, the two were married. From this union were born four children: Ron, Barbara, June, and Nancy. The Morita family lived on Chicago’s south side for many years and eventually purchased a home on the west side, in the Humboldt Park neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, in 1960, Mrs. Morita and her husband decided to move back to the West Coast, settling in Berkeley, California. The family later purchased a home in El Cerrito, California; and
WHEREAS, in November of 1975, Mr. Morita passed away from a sudden heart attack. Facing a challenging situation once again, Mrs. Morita was determined to find a way to continue providing for her family in her husband’s absence. To effectuate this purpose, Mrs. Morita decided to attend Contra Costa College. There she earned the necessary credits to allow her to be hired as an assistant to the City Manager of El Cerrito. Mrs. Morita was well liked and was known for her kind and gentle voice; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Morita enjoyed numerous hobbies including gardening, crafting, line dancing, and volunteering. She was also an avid walker; she walked nearly a mile every day until just before her passing. She was known to say that her secret to longevity was to “stay in motion”. Additionally, Mrs. Morita was a dedicated member of the Sycamore Congregational Church in El Cerrito, California; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Morita cherished her role as a devoted grandmother to nine grandchildren: Josina, Amanda, Carl, Paloma, Eric, Seiji, Kenji, Miyako, and Emiko. Mrs. Morita was also a beloved great grandmother to Kai and Meiko. She will be remembered for her gentle voice, apple pies, raspberry jam, and rainbow finger jello. Most of all, Mrs. Morita will be celebrated for her unconditional love; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and our staff, do hereby honor the life of Gloria Hisako Tamura Morita and do hereby extend our condolences to her family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to the family of Gloria Hisako Tamura Morita.
Dated: June 2, 2022