Tom Sakata remembered as a dedicated produce pro
Tom Sakata remembered as a dedicated produce pro
When Tom Sakata died Dec. 14, he didn?t leave a void in the daily functioning of Los Gatos, CA-based broker-distributor Bay Area Produce Inc. But he did leave a void in the hearts of people he?d worked with through a roughly 25-year career with the company.
Mr. Sakata died of heart failure, a demise foreshadowed by the major heart attack he suffered eight years ago. He had retired from his position as chief operating officer and salesman at Bay Area Produce in 2003. Then 62, Mr. Sakata had been the one to teach new salespeople the ropes, said Bay Area Produce partner Hank Imwalle.
?He was a drill sergeant, he was a taskmaster," Mr. Imwalle said. "He was a hard-working, dedicated guy " a true produce professional."
Mr. Imwalle said that Mr. Sakata was "integral to our growth and was one of our first salesmen." At one point, Mr. Sakata sold all the company?s squashes and melons out of the Los Gatos office.
In Bay Area Produce?s position as both a buyer and seller, Mr. Sakata was "a good advocate as a customer and as a supplier-shipper," Mr. Imwalle said.
What Mr. Sakata also was, apparently, was a teacher with a soft side who earned the respect of his sales staff.
Ken Sato, Mr. Sakata?s nephew and a Bay Area Produce salesman, said that Mr. Sakata was "liked and respected " you knew he was well-versed in produce." He also said that Mr. Sakata "liked to play practical jokes."
Rich Hawthorne, a Yuba City, CA-based regional supervisor of produce and floral for Raley?s Supermarkets, had an association with Mr. Sakata that dates back to 1969 when both men worked for a produce company in Sunnyvale, CA. Then 17, Mr. Hawthorne accepted a job as a clerk in the produce department. As a buyer for the Raley?s chain in the late 1970s, Mr. Hawthorne?s working association with Mr. Sakata grew even stronger.
?I got to know him as a very good friend " not just an employer and a boss," Mr. Hawthorne said.
Mr. Hawthorne credited Mr. Sakata with getting him excited about the produce business and taking a personal interest in Mr. Hawthorne?s success. "Tom was extremely instrumental in my development," Mr. Hawthorne said. "He was like a big brother, he was a mentor."
Just as Mr. Sakata had imparted his business savvy and wisdom on Mr. Hawthorne, the protege is passing along lessons he learned from his mentor. Mr. Hawthorne said he uses as a teaching tool what he calls the "Sakata rotation," which is a technique for rotating product.
Mr. Sakata died of heart failure, a demise foreshadowed by the major heart attack he suffered eight years ago. He had retired from his position as chief operating officer and salesman at Bay Area Produce in 2003. Then 62, Mr. Sakata had been the one to teach new salespeople the ropes, said Bay Area Produce partner Hank Imwalle.
?He was a drill sergeant, he was a taskmaster," Mr. Imwalle said. "He was a hard-working, dedicated guy " a true produce professional."
Mr. Imwalle said that Mr. Sakata was "integral to our growth and was one of our first salesmen." At one point, Mr. Sakata sold all the company?s squashes and melons out of the Los Gatos office.
In Bay Area Produce?s position as both a buyer and seller, Mr. Sakata was "a good advocate as a customer and as a supplier-shipper," Mr. Imwalle said.
What Mr. Sakata also was, apparently, was a teacher with a soft side who earned the respect of his sales staff.
Ken Sato, Mr. Sakata?s nephew and a Bay Area Produce salesman, said that Mr. Sakata was "liked and respected " you knew he was well-versed in produce." He also said that Mr. Sakata "liked to play practical jokes."
Rich Hawthorne, a Yuba City, CA-based regional supervisor of produce and floral for Raley?s Supermarkets, had an association with Mr. Sakata that dates back to 1969 when both men worked for a produce company in Sunnyvale, CA. Then 17, Mr. Hawthorne accepted a job as a clerk in the produce department. As a buyer for the Raley?s chain in the late 1970s, Mr. Hawthorne?s working association with Mr. Sakata grew even stronger.
?I got to know him as a very good friend " not just an employer and a boss," Mr. Hawthorne said.
Mr. Hawthorne credited Mr. Sakata with getting him excited about the produce business and taking a personal interest in Mr. Hawthorne?s success. "Tom was extremely instrumental in my development," Mr. Hawthorne said. "He was like a big brother, he was a mentor."
Just as Mr. Sakata had imparted his business savvy and wisdom on Mr. Hawthorne, the protege is passing along lessons he learned from his mentor. Mr. Hawthorne said he uses as a teaching tool what he calls the "Sakata rotation," which is a technique for rotating product.
