Carrie Sakai
Carrie Sakai
27 Aug 1957 - 28 Dec 2021
Clubs & Associations
Obituary
Carrie Sakai passed peacefully on December 28, 2021 after a very brief but valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family including her husband Misha Kokotovic and their beloved dog Izzy.
Carrie was born August 27, 1957 in Pacific Palisades, CA. It was at Marquez Elementary School that Carrie’s love for music took root.
As a pre-teen Carrie preferred curling up with a good book for hours at a time. This likely helped to fuel her wonderful imagination and hours of creative adventures with her pals and siblings.
Carrie always searched for the interesting and creative corners of life. The process of self-discovery continued with a drama class at Malibu Park Junior High where she broke through the barrier of shyness. She experienced a connection with a liberating vision which included confidence for self-identity and expression. These traits became a bedrock of Carrie’s personality allowing her to authentically engage and effectively empathize with all walks of life.
Carrie attended college at San Jose State which she cut short when she met her first husband Shig Sakai to whom she has maintained a very close bond. Carrie lived in Japan with Shig for seventeen years where she became immersed in a culture of artistry and quiet human kindness. While in Japan, she contributed her talents to several causes close to her heart. Carrie volunteered at a suicide hotline center. At the onset of the HIV Aids epidemic, Carrie also established Japan’s first hotline for people recently diagnosed with HIV to lend support and assistance. The impact she had on others lives was immeasurable.
She later returned to the States where she completed her undergraduate degree at San Francisco State University and thereafter earned a PsyD in Psychology, earning the title Dr. Sakai.
It was in San Francisco where Carrie met her beloved Misha at a bar salsa dancing. Their connection was immediate, and they began building a life together. Carrie and Misha moved to San Diego in 1999 where she served for sixteen years as a Counselor and Psychologist at San Diego State University (SDSU). While at SDSU, she developed a curriculum for at risk students and was instrumental in connecting the campus mental health referral database with community agencies. Carrie was very involved in the training and orientation of Counseling and Psychology department interns, particularly in the area of gender identity development.
One of Carrie’s greatest professional achievements was spearheading the development of the SDSU Safe Zones Program, that provides support and solidarity for LGBTQIA+ students. Her work with LGBTQIA+ students was honored in 2020 when SDSU created the Cayleff and Sakai Faculty Scholar appointment at the university’s Pride Center. She retired in 2020 after a career of passionate advocacy and compassionate service.
Memorial Panel
Remembrances
Photos
At Squeeze The Hive, 2014
Video
Get to Know Your CFA Bargaining Team: Carrie Sakai
