Oct. 1, 1949 — Feb. 20, 2012

Philip Teiji Asakawa died on Feb. 20, 2012. He was 62 and had been ill for several years with cancer. He lived in Davis for almost 35 years.

Philip was born on Oct. 1, 1949, in Los Angeles to Takeo and Kay Asakawa, went to elementary school in Pasadena, attended Claremont High School in Claremont, completed his undergraduate degree in English at Pomona College in 1969 and finished his teaching credential at UC Davis.

A teacher in Vacaville, Davis and Fairfield, he taught for 32 years and retired from Vacaville Unified School District in 2006. He taught for 25 years at Will C. Wood High School in Vacaville. During that time he headed the Opportunity Program, which was designed for students who struggled with transition to high school. He offered extra support, guidance, innovative strategies and was known to be able to teach any subject from English and history to math and science.

Philip’s interests during his life included music, art, literature, flyfishing, city league basketball and softball teams, horseracing, golf, gardening, hiking, birding, cooking, writing and a friendly game of poker.

He is survived by his wife, Joni; son Scott; mother Kay Asakawa; brother David Asakawa; sister-in-law Ingerid; and nieces Jesse and Layia.