Eunice Noda Sato (June 8, 1921 – February 12, 2021) was an American politician. She served as mayor of Long Beach, California from 1980 to 1982. As such she was the first Asian-American female mayor of a major American city, as well as the first female mayor of Long Beach.[3][4]

Eunice Sato
23rd Mayor of Long Beach
In office
1980–1982
Preceded byThomas J. Clark
Succeeded byThomas J. Clark
Personal details
Born(1921-06-08)June 8, 1921
Livingston, California, U.S.
DiedFebruary 12, 2021(2021-02-12) (aged 99)[1]
Long Beach, California, U.S.[2]
Political partyRepublican
SpouseThomas Sato (m.1950–2013; his death)
OccupationTeacher, politician
Known forFirst female mayor of Long Beach

Life and career

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Sato was the daughter of Japanese parents Bunsaku and Sawa Maeda Noda. She attended Modesto Junior College, the University of Northern Colorado, and Columbia University, and became a teacher. She taught in Michigan and overseas in Yokohama, Japan. In 1950, she married Thomas Takahashi Sato. She moved to Long Beach in 1956.[5] She was elected to the Long Beach City Council in 1975 and served until 1986.[6] In 1991 she was appointed to the U.S. National Advisory Council on Educational Research by George H. W. Bush. In September 2014, the former Hill Middle School, near the campus of California State University, Long Beach was named in her honor, as Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science.[7][8] Sato died at her home in Long Beach on February 12, 2021, aged 99.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Archbold, Rich (16 February 2021). "Eunice Sato, Long Beach's first female mayor, dies at 99". Press Telegram.
  2. ^ a b Grobaty, Tim. "Eunice Sato, the first woman to serve as mayor of Long Beach, dies at 99 • Long Beach Post News". lbpost.com.
  3. ^ "Former Long Beach Mayor Eunice Sato the giver at her birthday party". Presstelegram.com. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  4. ^ "Milestones for Women in American Politics | CAWP". Cawp.rutgers.edu. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  5. ^ ":: ZONTA Club of Irvine ::". Zontairvine.com. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  6. ^ Leavitt, Judith A. (1985). American Women Managers and Administrators: A Selective Biographical ... - Judith A. Leavitt - Google Books. ISBN 9780313237485. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  7. ^ "Long Beach school board renames two schools after minority women". Presstelegram.com. 2014-09-02. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  8. ^ "History". Longbeach.gov. Retrieved 2017-03-16.