Kiyoshi Kayo Ota, age 92, died March 4, 2015 after a long illness at Emeritus of Cape Cod in Hyannis. Son of the late Noburo and Oitsu Ota, he was born in Rock Springs, WY on June 12, 1922. Raised in Ogden, UT he attended Weber Junior College. When WWII broke out he enlisted in the Army. He was a member of the highly decorated 442nd Infantry Regiment. He saw action in Rome, Arno, Northern Appennines, Po Valley and the Rhineland. He received a Purple Heart for wounds received in action in France. He was honored recently with the collective awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest U.S. civilian award, for his service to his country in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. After being honorably discharged, he attended college and received his Bachelor of Arts from Temple University. He also attended Indiana University and Boston University. He rose through the ranks of the U. S. Postal Service starting as mailman and retiring as a Supervisor of the Computer Center at the South Station Annex in Boston, MA after 41 years of service.
An avid golfer, he belonged to Rockland Country Club, Pembroke Country Club and the Dennis Golf Courses. Upon his retirement to Cape Cod, he began taking Tai Chi at the Dennis Senior Center. He became so proficient that he soon taught lessons there and at other locations.
Kayo is predeceased by his brothers Harold, Bruce and Bob. Survived by his sister Ruth and her husband Masaaki Hattori of Salem, NH, his brother Bruce’s wife Kay of Tewksbury, MA, several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and great grandnieces and great grandnephews.
The family would like to especially thank all the staff members of Emeritus of Cape Cod for their care of Kayo. They made him comfortable and enveloped him as a part of a large, caring family. The family would also like to thank HopeHealth for its assistance and care of Kayo during his last days. The compassion and empathy the staff showed for Kayo and his family will always be remembered.
Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the First Tee of Massachusetts with special designation to the Cape Cod facility (300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766) or HopeHealth (765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601). For online condolences and other information please visit us at www.breenfuneralhome.com.