Dorothy Firmalo Tigson (94) - On May 20, 2018, Dorothy Firmalo Tigson, age 94, passed away peacefully in Clovis, California, with loved ones nearby. Dorothy was born in Madera, California, to John and Alice Michiyo Firmalo on September 1, 1923, the oldest of seven children.
The start of World War II ushered in two unhappy episodes in the life of her family: the death of her father in her junior year of high school and the internment of her family in a relocation center (Fresno Assembly Center) in the middle of her senior year. This was because her mother, although an American born citizen, was of Japanese descent. Being the oldest, Dorothy then had more responsibilities with her family. Her father was Filipino, a proud American Legionnaire and a Master Mason. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy who served in World War I. The Madera American Legion Commander and members, his Masonic Brethren and local businessmen took only three months to secure the family’s pardon and return to their Madera home.