OXNARD : Strawberry Festival to Honor Tsujio Kato
The 12th annual California Strawberry Festival will be dedicated to the memory of Dr. Tsujio Kato, who pioneered the event and guided it to national prominence during its first 11 years.
Kato, a former Oxnard mayor and dentist, died Feb. 20 of a heart attack. He was 56.
Details of the special recognition for Kato will be determined later by the festival committee. Planning for the festival, slated for May 20 and 21, will continue on schedule, committee members said.
“In a way, each of the past 11 festivals have all been tributes to Dr. Kato’s commitment to the community,” said Bill Garlock, festival manager. “Part of the magic of Kato’s leadership was that he was not only fair and insightful, but he was a very generous and selfless man as well. This enabled him to share what he knew and to encourage others to be the best they could.”
In recent years, the festival has generated more than $500,000 annually, with much of the profit directed to a variety of local nonprofit groups.
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