Kay Kitaura

Kay Kitaura, a husband and father who was as devoted to his family as he was to his golf game and motorcycles, died Feb. 28. He was 72.

Born in Sacramento to parents who had spent World War II in Japanese American incarceration camps, Kay and his siblings nevertheless enjoyed all-American pastimes like little league baseball, comic books and trips to Vic’s Ice Cream.

Kay owned a motorcycle before he owned a car, and after graduating from McClatchy High School he fully immersed himself in motorcycle culture. His pride and joy was a 1966 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead with high handlebars and raked forks as long as Kay’s trademark beard. He owned that motorcycle from the 1970s to the present day, adding another modern Harley in recent years and riding actively into his 70s. His photograph appeared alongside a 1987 newspaper article about a priest’s Easter “bike blessing” in San Jose, and over the years he rode to destinations like the famous rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Kay met his true non-carbureted love, Catherine, in the South Bay Area in 1981. They were married in Las Vegas four years later, before the birth of their son, Cody. As a family they fled the hustle and bustle of Santa Clara County and moved to a three-acre home in Shingle Springs.

After working on his uncle’s farm early in life and holding jobs as a truck driver, warehouse worker and landscaper, Kay built a career at DST Output in El Dorado Hills (formerly International Billing Services), where he was known for joking around with coworkers and where he eventually retired as a software analyst.

Later in life, Kay discovered a love of golf. An early riser for work, he always sought to be the first one on the golf course. In retirement he once notched 300 rounds of golf in a single year (including many days of more than one round); he also scored three holes-in-one over his many years of play.

A born-again Christian, Kay was active in several churches in El Dorado County.

In his downtime, Kay enjoyed watching Westerns and cheering on the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Vikings. He was just as enthusiastic cheering for his grandchildren at soccer games and playtime around the house. He encouraged them to play toy golf, climb onto his tractor and motorcycle, and always made sure to have their favorite cartoons saved on the DVR.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Joe and Ken, and his sister, Amy. He is survived by many loving family members. Kay was interred at East Lawn Memorial Park with many of his family members.