Gene Nakamura, a beloved figure in Berkeley, passed away on July 4 at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy that spanned education, sports, and community service.
A Life of Service
He was born in Colorado in 1944 and raised in Berkeley, where he graduated from Berkeley High School in 1962 before embarking on a lifelong career within the Berkeley Unified School District.
Over the next three and a half decades he taught and administered for the district, rising to the role of assistant principal at King, Willard and Longfellow Middle Schools, where he mentored countless students and staff.
From 1984 to 2007 he coached the Berkeley High School girls’ basketball team, guiding them to multiple championships and earning Cal Hi Sports California State Coach of the Year honors in 1991, followed by induction into the California Coaches Hall of Fame a decade later.
Outside the classroom and the gym he was a devoted family man, married to Diane and father to Loren, Lisa and Wade, and grandfather to Kaelie, Tyler and Jake; he loved fishing, especially trips to Alaska and lazy days on the lake, and was an avid admirer of Japanese Akitas.
He also gave back through more than 100 pints of blood donated to the American Red Cross, and his self‑reliance extended to plumbing, carpentry, electrical work and automotive repair, skills that endeared him to neighbors and friends alike.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents Susumu and Fumie Nakamura and his brothers Richard and Edwin as well as his sister Evelyn Davidson; he is survived by his brother Peter Nakamura and his wife Marge, the last surviving sibling. A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, in the Donahue Gym at Berkeley High School, a fitting tribute to a man who shaped generations of learners and athletes.