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Joel E. Ferris High School
Classes of 1966 - Present
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Deceased Classmate: Tai, Roderick (1967)
Date Of Birth: 1-17-1949
Date Deceased: 7-4-1973
Age at Death: 24
Cause of Death: Car Accident
Classmate City: Spokane
Classmate State: WA
Classmate Country: USA
Was a Veteran: No
Survived By: Survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sumia Tai, at the home: 2 brothers, Terry and Alan Tai, both at the home: 3 sisters, Mrs. Phillip (Kay) Hodge, Boston, Mass.: Mindy and Roberta Tai, both at home: his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Nishitue, Spokane, and Mrs. K. Tai, Seattle.
Spokane Daily Chronicle – July 5, 1973
3 Spokanites the Victims of Collision
A Spokane Valley couple and a Spokane man were killed in a Fourth of July head on collision at 7:40 last night on US Highway 95 about two miles south of Athol, Idaho. A fourth person was critically injured in the accident.
Victims were Mr. and Mrs. Alvin F. Peterson, and Roderick Yukio Tai, 24. The Petersons were about 50.
James Carl Cliff, 18, son of musician Cliff Carl (Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Cliff), was listed in critical condition in Kootenai Memorial Hospital’s intensive care unit. Coeur d’Alene, with chest injuries.
Idaho State Police said Peterson and his wife, Josephine, and Tai were all dead at the scene. Tai was a passenger in a sedan driven by Cliff.
The investigating officer, Harian Bush, said Cliff’s car was hit head on by a foreign made station wagon driven by Peterson, who was southbound on the highway and passing other southbound cars.
Tai’s body is at Ball & Dodd’s while the Petersons’ bodies are at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene. Background Told Tai, a musician and entertainment booking agent, was a partner with Marcus Ramsey of USA Entertainment. He’d had the business alone nearly three years and Ramsey had been associated with him since Jan. 1.
Tai, a drummer, had his own band. Everybody’s Good Time Band, and he was on his way to an engagement at The Plantation at Ponderay, just east of Sandpoint, Idaho. Cliff is bass guitarist and vocalist with the band. Tai had been a member and instructor of the Spokane Percussion-Nauts. He also was a primary organizer in the professional field of rock and roll music in Spokane, Ramsey said. He had participated in all-city music concerts throughout his school days here.
Native of Spokane
Tai was the son of Mr and Mrs Sumio Tai at the home. He was born in Spokane and had lived here all his life. He attended Lincoln School, Sacajawea Junior High School, Ferris High School, Gonzaga University and the University of Idaho. Also surviving are two brothers, Terry and Allan both at the home: three sisters, Mrs. Kay Hodge, Boston, Mindy and Roberta Tai, both at the home, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Nishitue, Spokane and Mrs. K. Tai, Seattle. He was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church and the Spokane Musicians’ Union Local 105. Funeral services are tentatively planned at 3 Sunday at Highland Park United Methodist Church with the Rev. Frank Y Ohtomo officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood.
Obituary – Spokane Chronicle July 6, 1973
Tai, Roderick Y. – His home, E833-36th, Spokane. Survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sumia Tai, at the home: 2 brothers, Terry and Alan Tai, both at the home: 3 sisters, Mrs. Phillip (Kay) Hodge, Boston, Mass.: Mindy and Roberta Tai, both at home: his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Nishitue, Spokane, and Mrs. K. Tai, Seattle. A member of Highland Park United Methodist Church and the Spokane Musicians Assoc. Local No. 105. Funeral services will be Sunday, July 8 at 3 pm at the Highland Park United Methodist Church, 611 Garfield. The Rev. Frank Y Ohtoma officiating. Private internment Monday, July 9 at 10am at Greenwood Memorial Terrace for family and friends. Ball and Dodd Funeral Directors, S.421 Division St. in charge of arrangements.
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