Sanae Kawaguchi Moorehead

It is with great sadness that the family of Sanae Kawaguchi Moorehead announce her sudden passing on Friday May 16, 2025, at the age of 93.

Sanae was born in Hollywood, CA in 1931, and she moved to Utah with her family during World War Two. In 1948 she moved to NYC to study dance with Martha Graham and worked as an actress, artist and writer publishing several children’s books and a fictional autobiography, A Time of Innocence, published in 2007.

Sanae will be fondly remembered by her daughter, Katharine Moorehead, MD and son-in-law, Ted Kenneally of Morehead City, NC and grandson Sen Kenneally of New York City. In addition, she is survived by her second daughter, Barbara Moorehead and son-in-law, Robert Lemchen of Los Angeles, CA and their children: Joseph Lemchen and Rachel Lemchen. Sanae had two older sisters Kris Toshie DeQuieroz and Joy Haruko Kawaguchi.

She is predeceased by her parents, Sakujiro and Fuki Kawaguchi of Hollywood, CA and husband John Louis Moorehead, of New York City.

At Sanae’s request, no service will be held to mark her passing.

The family wishes to send a very special thank you to the staff at Pruitt Health, Crystal Coast in Beaufort NC, Tonya Batten and Kathleen Jackson for their care and compassion.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home & Crematory of Morehead City, NC.