The Asian American Drug Abuse Program, Inc. (AADAP) will hold a Celebration of Life for Mike Watanabe on Thursday, May 23, at Holman United Methodist Church.

He passed away peacefully in his home in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2023.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is scheduled to the memorial to pay tribute to Watanabe, who was considered a friend and mentor.

There will also be a special koto performance by June Kuramoto, co-founder of Hiroshima, and a song by “Atomic” Nancy Sekizawa.

Watanabe was the leader of AADAP for 46 years and dedicated his life to helping individuals overcome addiction. He accomplished that by advocating for culturally competent substance use treatment and prevention services, and by expanding AADAP’s programs to include a holistic approach that brought comprehensive services under one roof.

Today, the organization serves over 28,000 individuals annually through multiple community-based programs, and has a strong reputation among funders as a trusted and competent provider.

In addition to his leadership at AADAP, Watanabe was committed to social justice and equitable access for communities of color, and those impacted by substance use and the criminal justice system. Bass approached Watanabe for guidance when establishing the Community Coalition to learn the principles of community organizing and advocacy-building. They’ve remained linked by their mutual dedication to influencing the social and economic landscape of underserved communities that have historically lacked investment and opportunities.

Watanabe held significant positions within various organizations, including serving as past president of the AAPI Equity Alliance (formerly known as the Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council or A3PCON), and acting as a commissioner for the Los Angeles County Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Commission for 16 years.

Furthermore, his involvement extended nationally as a founding board member of the National Asian Pacific Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA). He provided generous support to emerging organization, and AADAP takes pride in contributing to the establishment of exemplary API-serving organizations like Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC), Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE), Thai Commnity Development Center, and Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA). This legacy has left an indelible mark on the realm of AAPI nonprofits and Asian American services.

Watanabe came from humble roots, born on Aug. 23, 1946, in Pa’auilo, Hawaii, and several years later, moving to Los Angeles, where he graduated from Venice High School in 1964. He then served in Vietnam as a helicopter mechanic and, upon returning, earned his BA from CSU Northridge and also earned an MSW (Master’s Degree in Social Work) from UCLA.

He also received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from his alma mater, CSUN, on May 21, 2017, in recognition of his significant and exemplary contribution as an educator and celebrated leader in the field of substance use prevention, intervention, and treatment.

On those rare occasions when Watanabe was not working, he enjoyed attending Lakers games, fly fishing in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and fishing at Mammoth. He was beyond ecstatic when, in October 2022 at Mammoth Bow, he caught a seven-pound rainbow trout, a feat he considered to be the pinnacle of his hobby as a fisherman.

Most of all, he enjoyed vacationing with his wife, Suzie, and family and friends to Japan, Europe, Hawaii, and New York. He enjoyed gathering with friends and family while frequenting local L.A. hotspots to celebrate holidays, birthdays, milestones, and other special occasions, or just to share some good eats and drinks.

Watanabe was preceded in death by his stepfather Iwao “Jim” Osaka, his mother Koyoshi Osaka, and his sister Beverly Lippman. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Suzanne (Suzie) Toshiko Tamaki Watanabe; brothers Morris (Linda) Watanabe and Victor Osaka; and nephew Joey Watanabe.

The public Celebration of Life for will be held on May 23 at 4 p.m. Holman United Methodist Church is located at 3320 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles. It will also be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel. In lieu of flowers or koden, donations can be made to AADAP (https://aadapinc.org/) “In Memory of Mike.”

Articles for you