Little League® International mourns the passing of former Far East Region Director Mamoru Itoh. He was 83.
Mr. Itoh, a native of Chiba, Japan, was a Little League volunteer for many years and held the position of Far East Region Administrator from 1993-to-2003. He later served as Little League’s Asia-Pacific Advisor.
Graduating Waseda University in 1952, with a bachelor’s degree in economics, Mr. Itoh was hired that same year by Tokyo’s Mitsui Company. He accepted his first assignment in 1966, as Deputy Manager of Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro Office. His second assignment in Brazil, also in Rio, was in 1977. Mr. Itoh worked in Brazil for nearly 20 years, and was distinguished with a medal from the Brazilian Government in 1988. He also represented the Japan-Portugal Association and received another medal in 2002, this time from the Portuguese Government. Employed at Mitsui until 1989, Mr. Itoh held several titles in the Machinery, Chemical and Adnministative Divisions.
Mr. Itoh was driving force behind the expansion of Little League tournament play throughout the Far East Region. Through the 1970s and early 80s, he made several trips to Williamsport, Pa., with the Far Region representative to the Little League Baseball® World Series.
“Mr. Itoh was a very kind and considerate man, and a great manager of Little League in Japan, and throughout the Far East Region,” said retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball Creighton J. Hale. “No Region Director had more Little League Baseball World Series Champions or more entries in the World Series than Mr. Itoh.”
Upon hearing of the Mr. Itoh’s passing, Stephen D. Keener, Little League International President and CEO, messaged via Twitter, “Rest in Peace Mamoru Itoh… longtime LLB Far East Director and great friend to many from Asia to Williamsport.’’
Following the end of World War II, and before joining the Mitsui Company, Mr. Itoh worked part-time with the Occupation Army. It was there where he was introduced to American Jazz music. He was a great lover of all kinds of music, and collected more than 1,000 albums. He also was an avid tennis player.
Mr. Itoh is survived by his son, Tatsuya.