Mary Miyashita, 83; Democratic Fundraiser, Campaigner, Delegate
Mary Miyashita, 83, major fundraiser and campaigner for the Democratic Party for more than half a century, died April 27 in Whittier after suffering from cancer.
Born in Los Angeles, she was interned during World War II at the Santa Anita racetrack and in Gila Bend, Ariz., experiences she credited for her lifelong involvement in social causes and politics. Over the years, she participated in demonstrations for civil rights, farmworkers, literacy and education, and against the Vietnam War.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. May 13, 2004 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday May 13, 2004 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 40 words Type of Material: Correction
Miyashita obituary -- A brief obituary on Democratic Party fundraiser Mary Miyashita in Wednesday’s California section said she died April 27 in Whittier after suffering from cancer. In fact, she died of respiratory failure April 25 in a Glendora hospital.
Miyashita, who often entertained as many as 1,000 Democrats at fundraisers in her Whittier backyard, was a delegate to eight Democratic National Conventions from 1972 through 2000, watching Asian American participation rise from a handful of delegates to nearly 300.
A longtime friend of the Kennedy family, Miyashita campaigned for Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential bid in 1968 and was baby-sitting some of his children the night he was shot to death at Los Angeles’ Ambassador Hotel. She also worked for President Clinton’s election, and was a defender of John Huang, found guilty of two minor violations in the 1996 presidential campaign fundraising scandal.
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