An authority in "investigative engineering" and a motivating force in the classroom, Richard Chesney Elstner dealt in concrete and glass and helped build a business empire from coast to coast.After a nearly 4-year battle with prostate cancer, the 72-year-old troubleshooter died Sept. 15 at his Honolulu home.
A structural doctor of sorts, Elstner quelled rumors that a side of Kahala Mall was settling, recalled Narendra Saxena, Engineering Department chair at the University of Hawaii, where Elstner taught for more than a decade before retiring.
Students in Elstner's construction materials class remembered him and the classrooms still bear his mark. Student projects he oversaw adorn showcases, Saxena said.
"They (students) enjoyed his classes and have told me repeatedly how good he was," he said.
Born in Beaver, Penn., Elstner grew up to become the authority on diagnosing structures that showed signs of undue wear or were believed to be unsafe.
"He was in the field of troubleshooting," said Duane Lee, Honolulu branch manager of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. "He
tested more buildings all over the world than anyone else in the U.S. In our opinion he's an engineer of engineers."
Elstner co-founded the first office of the consulting business in Illinois, specializing in solving problems for the construction industry. The business now has offices in every major U.S. city, Lee said.
"He treated his work like a hobby," Lee said. "He touched everyone he came in contact with."
Among other honors, Elstner was selected as an honorary member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Cement and Concrete Products Industry of Hawaii. In 1994 he was named "Engineer of the Year" by the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers.
He is survived by wife, Elizabeth Ann; sons Richard Graham, Dwight Smith and Charles William; and grandson Connor Benjamin. A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Central Union Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the charity of your choice.
Masaichi Arakaki, 77, of Hilo, a retired heavy equipment mechanic for the former Hawaiian Equipment Machinery Co., died Monday in Hilo Hospital. He is survived by wife Fumiko; sons Carl and Earl; daughter Lynette Egusa; sisters Toyoko Yogi, Evelyn Oshiro and Fusako Oyasato; and six grandchildren. Private services held.
Ricky N. Asuncion, 43, of Pearl City died Sept. 12 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. He is survived by mother Lala Enfield; father Carlos Enfield; hanai brothers Clyde J. and Glenn D. Eugenio; hanai sister Audrey Olsen; sisters Lara Enfield, Lena Enfield-Ayonayon and Lynn D.E. Paranada; and brothers Larry and Lance Enfield. Service: 6 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Inurnment: 10:30 a.m. Monday at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Pak Oi Chee, 92, of Honolulu died Sept. 8 in the Island Nursing Home. She is survived by sons Chilton, Dennis, Kalfred, James, Ernest and Leslie; daughter Jackie Char; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Private services held.
Lazaro Diego, 85, of Waialua, a Del Monte Corp. retiree, died Sept. 10 in Wahiawa General Hospital. He is survived by wife Felicidad "Fely"; sons Larry Jr., Peter and Daniel; daughters Constance "Connie" Apuna, Suzette Catekista and Lorena "Nena" Diego; brothers Vidal and Severo; sisters Margareta Tagala, Modesta Claro, Silvestra Andres, Antonia Tumaneng, Sion Baptista, Matelda Agolicol and Valentina Diego; 18 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Service: 7 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 11 a.m. Monday at St. Michaels Church, 67-390 Goodale Ave. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Madelane C. Enanoria, 90, of Honokaa, Hawaii, died Monday in the Life Care Center of Hilo. She is survived by sons Nicholas "Nicky" and Andrew "Andy"; daughters Elizabeth "Betty" Carvalho and Rita Zimmerman; sisters Betty Begley and Ruth Van Winkle; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Mass: 11 a.m. Monday at Honokaa Catholic Church (Our Lady of Lourdes). Call after 9 a.m. Burial: church cemetery. Casual attire.
Dr. Mori Hayashi, 93, of Honolulu, father of former Sen. Ann S. Kobayashi, died Sept. 12 in Straub Hospital. Hayashi, a retired dentist, is also survived by wife Florence I.; son Roy Y.; brothers Yoshio, Nobuo and Dr. Bert Y.; sisters Chika Nakano, Minnie Schmidt and Amy Nishijima; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Private services held.
Elsa H. Holtwick, 75, of Lihue, an executive officer of Kauai Senior Centers, died Sunday in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. She is survived by sons Timothy and Robert; daughter Katherine Watkins; sister Myra Elias; and two grandchildren. Memorial service: 2 p.m. tomorrow at Lihue United Church. Casual attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to Lihue United Church.
Earl T.A. Hussey, 55, of Honolulu died yesterday in Straub Hospital. He is survived by sisters Diana Ysabel, Lauwae Hew Len, Grace Hemenway, Nona Fuller and Katherine Book; and brothers Albert M. Jr., Arnold and Wesley. Service: noon Tuesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday and after 8 a.m. Tuesday at the mortuary. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Stephany Indie, storyteller and educator formerly of Hawaii, died Aug. 6 in Beaverton, Oregon. Indie, 61, was born in Schenectady, N.Y. She taught at public schools on Oahu and Maui, and at Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific University, and the University of Hawaii, and was a staff member at Hawaii Loa College. A program she established at Windward Community College has been renamed the Stephany Indie Memorial Storytelling Festival. She is survived by daughter Maile Ann; son Michael T.; sister Abby Wilson and brother Angus Brown. Memorial service: 7 a.m. tomorrow at Kailua Beach, across from Buzz's. Casual attire. Rememberances may be sent to the Stephany Indie Memorial Storytelling Festival, c/o Windward Community College, 45-720 Keaahala Road, Kaneohe 96744.
Ellen B.F. Kao is also survived by husband Sze Yung Kao. Incorrect information for an obituary published Tuesday was provided by the mortuary.
Audrey M. Maust, 77, of Honolulu, a retired real estate secretary, died Sunday in Kaiser Hospital. No survivors. Memorial service: 10:30 a.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to the American Cancer Society.
Mary K.R. Medeiros, 62, of Kohala, Hawaii, died Wednesday at home. She is survived by husband Albert; son Ben L.M. Raymond; brothers Pua Jr. and Benjamin K. Raymond; and three grandchildren. Memorial service: 11 a.m. tomorrow at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hawi, Hawaii. Call after 9:30 a.m. Scattering of ashes will be held later. Casual attire. No flowers.
Yoshiko Morinaga, 69, of Honolulu died Tuesday in St. Francis Hospice. She is survived by husband Sueo; daughter Florence Fujita; brothers Hiroshi and Katsumi Namiki; and sisters Naomi Abe, Atsuko Kurata and Nobuko Ando. Private services.
Mary K. Pahia, 70, of Waipahu died Tuesday in St. Francis-West Hospital. She is survived by daughters Darlene Camuso, Shareen Altum and Johnsonette Mann; sons James Jr. and Andrew Pahia, and Jeffery Aveiro; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorial service: 9 a.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m.
Alan J. Palazini, 46, of Honolulu died Tuesday. He is survived by wife Alice Lombardo; daughters Jeanine Anglin and Krista Lombardo; sons Alan Jr. and Todd; father Albo; brothers Bryant Palazini and Ty Sonier; and sisters Tracy Sonier and Pamela Palazini. Service: 1 p.m. tomorrow at Valley of the Temples. Call after 11 a.m. Burial to follow.
Simeon Pali Jr., 48, of Napili, Maui, a maintenance mechanic for Amfac, died Monday at home. He is survived by wife Linda; son Simeon III; daughter Kimberly; brothers John, Solomon, Aimoku and Donald; and sisters Darling Kuloloia and Lizzie "Tweet" Lopez. Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary-Norman's. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Charles V. Pepe, 72, of Honolulu, a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant, died Sept. 11 in Tripler Army Hospital. He is survived by wife Mieko; and sister Angeline Sapko. Private services held.
James T. Sakashita, 68, of Santa Clara, Calif., formerly of Kakaako, a Westinghouse retiree, died Aug. 8. He is survived by wife Etsuko; daughters Cheryl Justi, Sheila Sakashita, Michele Howard and Monica Imahara; brothers Fujio, Richard and Stanley; sisters Evelyn Haraki, Dorothy Kawasaki and Alice Shishido; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services held. Incorrect information was published Aug. 31.