He is known as “Dr. John” - John E. Kashiwabara, MD - a revered practitioner of Family Medicine at Seaside Hospital/Long Beach Memorial from 1954 until retirement in 1990. His destiny was sealed at age seven when his father said, “... be a doctor providing healing for people...” It was a long, sometimes bumpy road traveling from his birthplace in Florin, California in 1921, around the world and back. He thought of being an architectural engineer, but his father’s words stuck in his head. After high school as valedictorian and community college as student and basketball star in Auburn, California, his road hit a bump. It was May 1942 - WWII, and 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were moved to ten internment camps. Dr. John was sent to Tule Lake, California. He was a hospital lab tech earning $19/month before being moved to a camp in Colorado. After release, the road took him to Chicago where he worked in a steel mill for a year, motivating him to pursue more education.

Dr. John earned his MD degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, followed by an internship and residency at LA County General Hospital. Graduating during the Korean “conflict,” he volunteered to serve his country. As a Captain in the US Air Force, ironically he was stationed at Johnson Air Force Base in Tokyo, Japan.

After an honorable discharge, Dr. John’s road became smooth again. He moved to Long Beach, began his Family Medicine practice and joined the Seaside Hospital medical staff. As president of the Long Beach Chapter/Academy of General Practice in 1966, he was instrumental in establishing the accredited Family Practice Residency Program at Long Beach Memorial. On his road well traveled, Dr. John has been a caring physician, a mentor to young people, a volunteer and philanthropist.

CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUST Dr. John gives expertise and philanthropic gifts to health care, education, athletics, youth organizations and civic affairs. His giving includes a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT) at the MMCF – funded with real estate. When real estate is used in business or held as a rental, appreciation can be a taxing matter. Depreciation deductions taken by the owner reduce the cost basis and increase the taxable gain at sale. When Dr. John gave his medical office building to the MMCF, he fulfilled a philanthropic goal and allowed the trustee to sell the property tax-deferred. He receives lifetime income from the CRUT based on the full, untaxed net proceeds realized. And, he receives an immediate charitable income tax deduction for his future gift. Good exchange: appreciation for income – taxable event for a tax deduction. If you would like to learn more about a CRUT, contact Julie Heggeness, JD, at 562.933.1669, jheggeness@memorialcare.org or Jim Normandin, MMCF President, at 562.933.1667, jnormandin@memorialcare.org.