The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) mourns the passing of Margaret “Marge” Wada, a dedicated JANM volunteer for 23 years.

She worked for the State of California for 19 years and retired as a Manager II. At JANM she taught origami to students during school visits and supported staff with mailings and other projects. Her passion for dancing led to her to recruit and organize volunteers to dance in the annual Nisei Week street ondo.

During her time with the museum, she chaired the Events, Recognition, and Organizational Committee and co-chaired the External Relations Committee. In recognition of her service, she received JANM’s Community Award, Administration Award, and Miki Tanimura Outstanding Volunteer Award — the highest honor given to a JANM volunteer for extraordinary service.

“Marge embodied the spirit of JANM through her leadership, compassion, and generosity,” said Ann Burroughs, JANM president and CEO. “One of her most be-loved memories was when George Takei gave her 800 valentine cards from around the world as part of the ‘Mob Marge’ program that was sponsored by ‘Allegiance’ in 2011. At 82, she was chosen because she was one of the last elderly survivors of the concentration camps at that time.

“The issuance of Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942 and the subsequent experiences of wartime incarceration lent a bitterness to Valentine’s Day for many camp survivors. The wealth of cards that Marge received showed the kindness and compassion that people wanted to reintroduce into mid-February. She will be dearly missed and always be remembered for her patience, organization, and benevolence.”

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