Lynn Tsugie Nagasako ’70

An outstanding lawyer and one of our — and Princeton’s — first undergraduate alumnae, Lynn died after a long fight with cancer Nov. 17, 2020, in Portland, Ore.

Entering with her Critical Languages Program compatriots in 1968, Lynn brought her joyous Hawaiian attitude, expertise in Japanese linguistics, and her indecipherable cutthroat bridge game to Campus Club as its first woman member. She then earned a law degree at Columbia and embarked on a legal career with Reid & Priest in New York (too crowded) and then Portland (just right, and cooler than Hawaii), where she permanently remained. She worked in corporate law for years, then followed her drive to public service by transitioning to the Oregon Department of Justice. Lynn also served as president of the Multnomah Bar Association and the Oregon Law Foundation. She retired after 18 years in the department as the senior assistant attorney general of Oregon, a tribute to her skills and her great respect among her peers.

When questioned after yet another bridge triumph about one of her late-in-life focuses — her spinning wheel — Lynn described it as a calming and peaceful purpose. We will dearly miss that spirit from our hoaloha.