Grace Sato, a UCLA alumna, died Jan. 22 in a traffic accident at
the intersection of Santa Monica and Westwood Boulevards. She was
34.
Friends and family remember Sato for her kindness, especially
toward animals. Sato worked as a veterinary technician at the
California Animal Hospital in Los Angeles.
Sato died while doing two of the things she loved to do the most
““ riding her bicycle and making a house call to a client to
care for an animal.
“She was adored by the clients,” said Roxanne
Martin, a receptionist at the hospital where Sato worked.
“She made house calls for people who couldn’t get their
pets in for treatment. She was very personable, bright and
compassionate.”
While growing up, many of the pets Sato owned were deserted
animals that could not find homes, said Sato’s younger
brother, Tad.
According to Martin and a close friend., Joon Lee, Sato had
three cats she adopted in one weekend.
“She would make a sling for day-old kittens in the office
and carry the little babies around,” Martin said.
Sato was adventurous and loved the outdoors. She enjoyed
snowboarding, scuba diving, dancing, hiking and biking.
Friends say she also loved to eat and liked to cook.
A Los Angeles native, Sato graduated from UCLA in 1993 with a
degree in psychology. While at UCLA, she worked with autistic
children.
In 1997, Sato left for Japan to participate in a Japanese
teaching program through which she taught English for three
years.
“She wanted to do something different and learn more about
her heritage,” Tad said.
Sato became a veterinarian because of her love of animals and
her desire to help people, he added.
Sato traveled to places including Thailand, Korea, China,
Singapore and France. On a trip to Fiji, she built homes with
Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that provides
shelter for low-income families around the world.
Patty Hernandez, who also worked with Sato at the animal
hospital, said Sato often wore a bright hat to work, and other
friends say they remember Sato for her energy and friendliness.
“Grace was one of those people whose smile lights up the
whole place,” Lee said. “She was vibrant, energetic and
always laughing.”
Coworkers said she was always smiling and looking out for other
people, and never complained.
“She was the most cheery person, always talking about
something and giggling. She was very enthusiastic,” Hernandez
said.