Terence James “Terry” Yamada, a Portland-area attorney known for his dedication to both personal and professional integrity, died Sept. 11 after a battle with cancer.

Yamada was born in Ontario, Oregon, on May 20, 1950. His family then moved to Parma, Idaho, where Yamada grew up on the family farm. He excelled at athletics, including football and wrestling. He also enjoyed drumming.

He attended college at the University of Oregon and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1972. He then enrolled in Lewis and Clark Law School, receiving his law degree in 1975.

A respected member of state bars in Oregon, Idaho and Washington state, Yamada practiced law for more than 40 years, mainly at Anderson and Yamada PC.

Yamada served with the Japanese American Citizens League and was instrumental in the redress for families who were interned during World War II.  He served as legal counsel to the Japanese Ancestral Society, assisting with the Nikkei Community Project and Rose City Cemetery.

He also founded the holiday assistance program at Epworth United Methodist Church, and assisted with their Worship Council and annual bazaar.

At Yamada’s request, a family graveside service was held in lieu of a memorial service. His family has requested that anyone wishing to honor his memory make a donation to the Japanese American Citizens League (https://jacl.org), the American Civil Liberties Union (www.aclu.org), the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) or Epworth United Methodist Church.

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