Teruya ‘Terry’ Komoda Uyehara: 1937-2022

My grandmother Terry was unique, outgoing, and a flirt, right up to the end. Standing at just 4′10″, Teruya Komoda Uyehara packed a punch. When driving, she required two pillows just to reach the pedals! It was a sight to see her with her grandsons, Spencer at 6′4″, walking downtown, or Darren, holding her hand, saying, “I love you, Grandma.”

Teruya ‘Terry’ Komoda Uyehara | Credit: Courtesy Spencer Wass

When she stopped driving, Terry walked all over Santa Barbara, giving money to homeless people instead of buying things for herself. In fact, she always wanted to win the lottery and buy a house where she could live with all of her family.

Her grandsons loved introducing their grandmother to new people and found it even more fun to hear about someone meeting her organically — “Your grandma is the little Japanese lady with the thick flip-flops?”

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