Dr. Alfred Namba

Dr. Alfred Namba was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1928. A grandson of a samurai, he lived his life guided by determination, duty, service, and honor.

In eighth grade, the attack on Pearl Harbor profoundly altered the course of his life. The day after the attack, his middle school teacher asked him to stand before the class and explain Japan’s actions. Having always identified fully as an American citizen, the request left him speechless and marked a defining moment of displacement and confusion.

His parents were first-generation Japanese immigrants. His father had mastered English, completed his education, and trained as a pharmacist. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the family was forcibly relocated, resulting in the loss of their home and pharmacy business. Dr. Namba and his family spent a year at the Hart Mountain relocation camp in Wyoming. After their release, they faced significant hardships rebuilding their lives.

His father worked tirelessly in a succession of jobs—laboring on a sugar beet farm in Blackfoot, Idaho, raising chickens in South Salt Lake, and working as a stock clerk at Walgreens. Through perseverance and determination, he eventually opened a pharmacy on West Temple in Salt Lake City.

Alfred attended Granite High School and later South High School, dedicating much of his free time to helping his father in the pharmacy. He initially followed in his father’s footsteps, earning a pharmacy degree in 1952. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the artillery division during the Korean War.

He later recalled spending a lonely first Christmas in service, cleaning his rifle while awaiting transport from Tokyo to Korea. Recognizing his pharmacy training, the Army assigned him to serve as a medic. During his service, he demonstrated exceptional courage, earning the Bronze Medal of Valor for rescuing a wounded officer under active fire.

After completing his military service, Dr. Namba chose to pursue medicine. He attended the University of Utah School of Medicine and completed clinical rotations at Holy Cross Hospital. Drawn to internal medicine, he completed two years of residency at Holy Cross before continuing his training at the Mayo Clinic, where he completed an additional two years.

In 1963, he returned to Salt Lake City to begin private practice with Dr. George Gross. Over the course of his career, he became a respected internist and a leader in the medical community. At Holy Cross Hospital, he served as Head of the Department of Medicine in 1976, President-elect for two years, and Chief of Staff in 1978. His leadership extended to the Salt Lake County Medical Society, where he served as Secretary in 1979 and President in 1980.

Dr. Namba was also a devoted and compassionate family man. In 1954, after returning from military service, he married a longtime family friend who was a nursing instructor at Holy Cross. Together they had three children: Jill, Mark, and David. Following the end of that marriage, he married Doris Christenson in 1974, blending their families. Doris brought three children—Shelley, Becky, and Steven—into the household. Despite the increased responsibilities, Alfred was a caring and attentive father to all six children.

He took great joy in supporting his children’s activities and community involvement. In 1975, he became the team physician for the Highland High School football team, a role he proudly maintained for ten years. Outside of work, he enjoyed walking, playing tennis at the Salt Lake Racquet Club, and sailing at Rockport Reservoir.

Dr. Namba is survived by his wife, Doris, and his children: Jill (Wayne) Counts, Mark (Lynda) Namba, Shelley (Steve) Richards, Becky (Ty) Peterson, David Namba, and Steven Christenson. He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) or the Humane Society of Utah.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 1, 2026 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East.  Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building.  He will be laid to rest in a private family service at Mountain View Memorial Estates.