More tests needed before cause of Hamada death set

Friday, Jan. 14, 2000 | 8:46 a.m.

The official cause of death of Las Vegas restaurateur June Chizuko Hamada, whose body was found in the swimming pool at her Las Vegas home, is being withheld pending the results of toxicology tests.

Clark County Coroner Ron Flud said the results of those tests from Tuesday's autopsy should be available within two weeks. There were no outward signs of foul play in the death of the woman who turned 62 last week, Metro Police said.

Services for Hamada, a Las Vegas resident of 20 years, were scheduled at 2 p.m. today at Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. She was co-owner of 10 Hamada Restaurants, including four in Las Vegas, and Hamada Tour Services of Las Vegas.

Hamada served as trustee of the Asian Chamber of Commerce's political action committee. She also was director of the local Japan American Society.

Last year Hamada and her husband, Yukiho Jay Hamada, her business partner, were named the Asian Chamber's business people of the year.

Born Jan. 7, 1938, in Hiroshima, Japan, June Hamada came to the United States at age 20 and became a U.S. citizen.

The Hamadas opened their first local Hamada of Japan restaurant at 958 E. Flamingo Road. The most recent of the local Hamada eateries opened Sept. 21 in the Resort at Summerlin. The couple also owns restaurants in the MGM Grand, Flamingo Hilton and in Southern California.

Clark County Fire Department paramedics responded to the Hamada home in the 8000 block of Pinnacle Peak Avenue in Spanish Trail near Rainbow Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue shortly after 8 p.m. Monday.

They discovered Hamada fully clothed and unconscious in the pool. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful, officials said.

In addition to her husband, Hamada is survived by a daughter, Bernice Michiko Sadamune of Los Angeles; a son, Howard Hirabayashi Hamada of Las Vegas; her mother, Asako Ishino of Tokyo; a brother, Tadanori Imamura of Tokyo; a sister, Tina Hamble of Los Angeles; and five grandchildren.