Frank Kitamoto died after heart and kidney complications on March 15, 2014.

A nationally respected Japanese American community leader, Frank was born on May 28, 1939 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Frank graduated as salutatorian from Bainbridge High School in 1957, went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Washington in 1965, and Frank returned to Bainbridge Island to begin his successful 48-year dental practice.

Frank was just two-and-half years old when he and 226 other Bainbridge Islanders became the first to be forcibly removed to concentration camps in 1942. Frank’s family was first incarcerated at Manzanar in California and later transferred to Minidoka in Idaho.

Because of this unconstitutional incarceration, Frank shared his inspirational message of tolerance, liberty and human rights by speaking to hundreds of groups ranging from school-age children to senior citizens. For his work, Frank received numerous awards for his decades of volunteer service.

Included among the many groups in which Frank was most active during recent years were the Bainbridge Island Japanese Community, the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, Friends of Minidoka and the Bainbridge Island School District Multicultural Advisory Council.

Frank is survived by his wife Sharon and son Derek, Bainbridge Island; sisters Lilly (Mitsuhiro) Kodama, Bainbridge Island and Frances Ikegami, Bremerton; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Frank Yoshito Kitamoto and Shigeko Kitamoto and sister Jane Akita.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6 at Woodward Middle School, 9125 Sportsman Club Road, Bainbridge Island.

Dress casually. Because Frank was an avid UW Huskies football fan and loved his trips to Hawaii, casual wear could include wearing purple and gold or Hawaiian attire.