Roy Calman ZukermanObituary
Roy Calman Zukerman, at the age of 91, passed away on October 17, 2023 in Cochise County, Arizona, of natural causes. Roy enlisted in the US Army and served in the Signal Corp where he learned Morse Code and operated a radio in Japan during the Korean War. It was there that he learned to use and operate an Amateur Radio, which is now commonly known as Ham Radio, communication which he turned into a hobby that he enjoyed for the rest of his life.While stationed in Japan, he met the love of his life, the beautiful Mitsue Kezuka, whom he married (after dealing with the US Army red tape). Mitsue was his bride of 66 years until she passed away in November of 2020. Upon returning to the States, Roy and Mitsue settled in Southern California, more specifically Orange County where Roy got a job as a reporter for the newspaper, the Orange County Register. He was assigned to the Courthouse Beat where he wrote and reported on the criminal and civil trials pending in the Orange County Superior Court. This experience awoke in him a burning desire to study law. In 1960, Roy started the study of law at the Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California, graduating at the top of his class in August 1964 with a Juris Doctor Degree. He was admitted to the California Bar to practice law in 1965 opening his own office in Westminster. He later moved to Fountain Valley and after 10 years of practice, became the General Counsel for a national bank, retiring from that position after 30 years of service. Upon retiring, he became associated as ‘of counsel’, with the Law Offices of Jose Mariano Castillo in Los Angeles where he handled international civil matters while at the same time assisting the Superior Courts of Los Angeles and Orange County by volunteering as as pro tempore judge in the Small Claims and Traffic Court of those counties.Roy and Mitsue are survived by their two children, Deborah Lynne Doyle of Arizona and Nathaniel Tomiki Zukerman of Virginia; their grandchildren Tabitha Erin Scallan, Samuel Merritt Kikugiro Doyle, Jennifer and Diane Zukerman; and four great-grandchildren Eva and Eli Doyle, and Joseph and Waylen Scallan. Roy has also left behind his loving companion, Sally Sussman, whom he spent the last few years with. Roy was predeceased by his parents, Sam and Diane Zukerman; his siblings, Connie, Kaye and Neil; and his “bride” Mitsue. During his life, Roy enjoyed his Ham Radio and was a licensed operator providing communication on a voluntary basis in cases of emergencies. He belonged to the Kiwanis organization and loved to read to the children at the libraries and schools. Roy and Mitsue traveled over the western half of the United States with their children, then traveled to Japan, Europe, Mexico, Honduras and other countries with their daughter and friends.A Celebration of life will be held in Playa Vista, California on February 18, 2024 at 1 PM. Roy’s ashes will be interred with his bride in Sierra Vista, Arizona on March 3, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Southwestern University School of Law General Scholarship Fund in recognition of the school affording him and other deserving students an opportunity to excel. RSVP’s to the Celebration of Life are being accepted at 213-622-6555 Attn: Maria or mromero@castillolaw.com.
