Roy Seko, 75, prominent restaurateur
"People were shocked he could be so strong," said his wife, Joan Seko. "He accepted it, joked and comforted the other people. He talked to them until the day he died."
Mr. Seko, the founder of Bush Garden Restaurant in the Chinatown International District, died Sunday (July 4). He was 75.
"... This is the passing of an era, an era where small, family-owned businesses were the backbone of our economy," said Sharon Tomiko Santos, Democratic representative and longtime family friend.
She said the Bush Garden was a place for community celebrations and political fund-raisers where she celebrated her husband's 60th birthday.
"They modeled what it meant to be community leaders, and did it in their own quiet fashion," she said. Mr. Seko "had a great wry sense of humor. He was very self-deprecating. One of the things I learned from him is you take time for yourself and learn how to laugh at yourself."
Mr. Seko, who was born in Seattle, was interned at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho during World War II.
An artist, he liked to draw pictures of airplanes; when they were discovered, his father was accused of being a spy and put in a prison camp for the remainder of the war. After the war, the family lived with relatives on Bainbridge Island until Mr. Seko's father was released, and then the family returned to Seattle.
Mr. Seko attended the University of Washington, majoring in architecture and Far East studies, but his education was interrupted when he joined the Army during the Korean War. After the war, he changed his major to engineering and went to work as a draftsman at Boeing.
In his late 20s, he decided to start his own business, making shoji screens for businesses and homes. Then his father asked if he wanted to join him in opening the Bush Garden Restaurant.
The restaurant opened in 1957, and the first event was the wedding reception for Roy and Joan Seko.
Mr. Seko met Joan Morishima while the two were on dates with different people in a group of friends.
"Everyone else was from Japan," Joan Seko said. "We were the only ones born in the U.S. We had more in common and started talking at a dance at Parker's palladium in the North End."
The couple raised five children.
Over the years, Mr. Seko opened other Bush Garden Restaurants in San Francisco and Portland, Joan Seko said.
He belonged to the Japan-America Society and helped make award-winning Seafair floats for the Japanese community, his wife said. He liked to golf and bowl, and he once bowled a 299. "The last 10-pin was shaking, but it wouldn't go down," she said.
The family traveled the world and crossed the country in its RV, the Blue Phantom.
"He was always organizing. He wanted everyone to have a good time," said daughter Lauree Seko. She said he would go with a group of friends fishing and razor-clam digging and would always show people how to do it the right way.
Tomio Moriguchi, president of Uwajimaya, knew Mr. Seko for more than 60 years and said he was a skilled and generous businessman.
"He's a guy you'll miss slowly but surely for a long time," he said.
In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Seko is survived by daughters Kristi Shimada of Newcastle and Ann Haas of Kirkland; and sons Gregg of Bothell and Mark of Seattle.
Services will be Friday at Seattle Buddhist Church, 1427 S. Main Street.
Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com