Robert T. Nakamaru

Robert T. Nakamaru, 73, of Bettendorf, Iowa, retired Professor of Sociology at Black Hawk College, devoted activist, guitarist, outdoor enthusiast and canoeist, died peacefully Friday, August 22, with his family by his side.

A casual gathering to celebrate Bob’s life with coffee and music will be 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, November 8, at Duck Creek Lodge, 3300 E. Locust Street, Davenport. Bob will be remembered by the community in San Juan La Laguna with a Mass on September 1 at Iglesia Catolica San Juan. Another service will be held at Iglesia Centroamericana BETHEL on September 2. Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory, Moline, under the direction of Trimble Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Centro Maya Project (https://www.centromayaproject.org/) or to Friends of the Boundary Waters (https://www.friends-bwca.org/memorial/).

Robert Tsuneo Nakamaru was born October 5, 1951, in Warsaw, Indiana, to Wataru and Miyoko (Mikasa) Nakamaru. The experiences of his parents in Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II profoundly shaped Bob’s life, guiding his work as an educator, speaker, and advocate.

Bob graduated from Fairbury-Cropsey High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University and master’s degrees from Sangamon State University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He held an ABD from UW Madison. He married the love of his life, Jeanne Layng, on August 26, 1972, in Rockford, Illinois, and together they shared 53 years of partnership, family, and activism.

As a professor, Bob believed deeply in the power of education to inspire and catalyze change. He co-founded the Peace Connection at Black Hawk and remained active in social movements throughout his life. He called attention to the realities of nuclear war and the imprisonment of Japanese Americans, believing that understanding the past is essential to shaping a more just future. This year, he could be found enthusiastically holding signs at the “No Kings” and “Hands Off” protests and other demonstrations.

A pacifist with a vision of a more equitable world, Bob dedicated himself to building solidarity with immigrants and marginalized communities. His interfaith efforts reflected this calling: he collaborated with Quaker Friends to rebuild Black churches burned in the 1990s and fostered connections among Unitarian, Jewish, and African-American Baptist congregations, always believing that deeper understanding, mutual care, and genuine relationships are the foundation for lasting peace.

Bob was a founding member of the Centro Maya Project, a humanitarian nonprofit supporting impoverished Mayan families on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. The project provides food, medical care, scholarships, and advocacy for children with disabilities and their families. For almost two decades, he spent winters in San Juan La Laguna, growing coffee, teaching guitar, and volunteering with the center. Through this work, Bob and Jeanne built enduring relationships and a chosen family, with several children named “Roberto” in his honor.

Music was a lifelong joy for Bob. He began playing guitar in his senior year of high school, eventually, and somewhat reluctantly, performing classical and folk music. He often shared the stage with his younger child, kyoko, at benefit events.

Bob also loved spending time in nature. He found joy canoeing in the Boundary Waters and the Everglades, especially with his son, Cary, exploring the Mississippi or hiking with his dogs, and immersing himself in the natural world at every opportunity.

An accomplished athlete, he competed in tennis at the national level and enjoyed a wide range of sports throughout his life. He excitedly anticipated his weekly golf outing with his friends.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Jeanne; his children and their spouses, Cary and Danielle Nakamaru of Northridge, California, and kyoko nakamaru and Aaron Amaro of Topanga, California; two grandchildren, Jet Nakamaru and Miyo Nakamaru-Amaro; and two sisters, Wendy Nakamaru-Johnson (Gary Johnson) and Nancy Brown. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.