Obituaries

Friday, November 21, 1997

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Mique Quenzer, 53, directed
‘Harry and Myra’ commercials

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Mique Quenzer was a talented filmmaker who shot some of Hawaii’s most notable television commercials, friends recall.

“He was the best,” said Gloria Tamashiro, who starred with her husband, Ben, in over 40 Bank of Hawaii “Harry and Myra” commercials, all directed by Quenzer.

“We learned a lot from him, just by listening,” Tamashiro added. “He was so patient. I had great respect for him.”

Quenzer died Wednesday at Queen’s Hospital, a month before his 54th birthday.

“His approach was that of a filmmaker -- more measured, precise and artistic,” said Buck Laird of Laird Christianson Advertising. “I remember a First Hawaiian Bank commercial that told the story of a son leaving for college and the end shot has the father and son embracing.

“I used to use that as an example of the quality of work you could get in Hawaii,” Laird added.

“Mique’s work was national quality as opposed to the quick- and-dirty stuff.”

Quenzer came to Hawaii in the ’60s and worked for Cec Heftel at KGMB-TV, said his friend and former business partner Peter Dawson.

After forming the Hawaii Production Co., Quenzer branched out on his own in 1976 with Quenzer Driscoll Dawson Inc.

“Mique was a creative free spirit and very dynamic,” Dawson said. “I know he had a great deal of fun working on the ‘Harry and Myra’ spots. The first one in the series came out around 1985.”

Another of his memorable commercials involved a bowling ball that wrecks a house. The spot was for First Insurance.

“Mique had a great wit and was a wonderful story teller,” said Jim Loomis of Loomis & Pollock Advertising. “We were on opposite sides of the fence politically -- he did a lot of (former Gov. George) Ariyoshi’s stuff and I was with the (former Mayor Frank) Fasi camp -- but his work was always on the cutting edge.”

Ken Libby, photo director for Light Impressions, called Quenzer “a mentor to a lot of people in town.

“He was good at thinking on his feet, so he could make something better,” Libby added. “I think he was great at getting professional performances out of nonprofessionals, and he especially worked well with kids.”

Quenzer was also instrumental in organizing the Film and Video Association of Hawaii.

He worked in Hawaii for 30 years before leaving in 1994 to become director of marketing and internal communications for Pinnacle Post, then the Northwest’s top post-production and special effects company.

More recently, Quenzer had been working as a free-lance director.

Born in Los Angeles, he is survived by wife Elaine Dietrich; son Kaleo; daughter Lori; brothers Peter and Jim; and sisters Barbara and Georgene.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Hawaii State Film Studios, 510 18th Avenue. Casual attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to Mique Quenzer Memorial Fund, c/o FAVAH, P.O. Box 11617, Honolulu, HI 96828.

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Elsie A.F. Chong, 87, of Honolulu, a bookkeeper, died Saturday inHonolulu. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son Johnny; brothers Stanley, Robert, Charles and Howard Nip; sisters Violet Lee, Rachel Ah Nee, Margaret Mar, Hazel Wong, Narcissus Yap and Diana Mar; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Marion M. Cole, 90, of Kailua-Kona, a retired vocalist and artist, died last Friday in Keauhou Rehabilitation Healthcare Center. Born in Fruita, Colo., she is survived by daughter Carol Allen; sister Margaret Fawver; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mokuaikaua Church, Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona. Casual attire. No flowers.

Oscar P.C. Dempster, 68, of Waianae died Saturday in St. Francis-West Hospital. Born in Waialua, he is survived by wife Laulupe “Lupe”; sons Andrew, Charles and John; sisters Alberta Botelo and Jean Ongies; and grandchildren. Private services.

Catherine L. Ferreira, 90, of Honolulu died Monday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son James; daughter Virginia Kapele; brother Alfred Espinda; sisters Dorothy Poepoe and Lena Lee; nine grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Stephen’s Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park.

Hisao Hara, 75, of Waialua died Nov. 12 in Straub Hospital. Born in Hawaii, he is survived by sons Gregory K., Wendell K. and Gilbert K.; daughter Blanche K. Miyamoto; brothers Yoshio, Kazuto K. and Shinobu D.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Private services.

Virginia L. Hoffman, 78, of Ewa Beach, a child-care provider, died Nov. 7 in Ewa Beach. Born in Minnesota, she is survived by husband Gerald; sons David and Douglas; a granddaughter; and a great-grandson. Private services.

Walter A. Jenkins, 81, of Honolulu, a sales manager for Arizona Distributing Co., died Nov. 12 at home. Born in Ohio, he is survived by wife Pat; son Tom; and a granddaughter. Private services.

Stanley C.L. Kau, of Honolulu, a retired school principal, died Nov. 6 in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Darlene; son Brian; daughter Terry Ann; and mother Choy Shee. Private services.

Maria K. “Sweetie” Kepaa, 73, of Mililani, a retired civil service worker in Okinawa, died Monday in St. Francis-West Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband William; daughters Pamela Naone and Maria “Noho” Lovell; brothers Charles III and Edward Nuemann; sisters Alice Trani and Elizabeth Kumalaa; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services: 11:45 a.m. Wednesday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Aloha attire.

Frances M. “Lady” Kuheana, 47, of Hilo died Sunday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Pahala, Hawaii, she is survived by mother Annie; brothers Joseph, Michael, Paul, Gilbert, Ralph and David; and hanai sister Mary J. Enocencio. Wake: 7 p.m. Monday at Dodo Mortuary, Hilo. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at the mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.

Joseph F.C. Lau, 89, of Honolulu, a retired city physician, died Nov. 12 at home. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by sons Gayle and Glenn; brothers Johnson and Stanley; sisters Elizabeth Ching and Lani Low; and three grandchildren. Private services. No flowers. Donations suggested to Aloha United Way or St. Louis Alumni Association.

Tong Lau, 75, of Honolulu, a retired baker, died Tuesday in St. Francis Hospital. He was also a member of American Legion Kau Tom Post 11. Born in Canton, China, he is survived by wife Mooi Wah; sons Johnson, Dickson and Collin; daughter Jenny Hartman; brothers Nam and On; sister Sui Fong; and two grandchildren. Call from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday at Borthwick Mortuary. Taoist services will be held. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.

Uluvalu Lefotu, 67, of Waianae, a retired licensed practical nurse, died Saturday at home. Born in Taumanua, American Samoa, she is survived by husband Milo; son Isaako; daughters Vailala Vaitautolu, Lafaaua Williams, Tiana Otis and Falavia Ava; brothers Toatolu, Oge and Isopo Nua, and Mefi Fetui; sister Uluvalu Tuitoelau; and 19 grandchildren. Services: 9 a.m. Wednesday at Waianae Assembly of God Church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Meinert R. MacKenzie, 76, of Kailua, an aircraft specialist, died Tuesday in Kailua. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Carol; son James; daughters Lori and Jodie; sister Irene W.; and a granddaughter. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kailua 3rd ward. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.

Louis N. Mandrigues, 75, of Kapaa, Kauai, a truck driver, died Wednesday in Mahelona Hospital. He was also a World War II veteran. Born in Kapaa, Kauai, he is survived by sisters Irene Ebesu, Norma Rados, Burnette Fujinaka and Ruby Daffron; and brother Melvin. Mass: 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: St. Catherine’s Catholic Church Cemetery. Casual attire.

Yoshino Miyamoto, 99, of Honolulu, retired owner of Columbia Cleaners, died Tuesday at home. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, she is survived by daughters Sara E. Orimoto and Helen A. Tagomori; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Services: 8 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Emily T. Molina, 94, of Honolulu died Sunday at home. Born in Puunene, Maui, she is survived by daughters Margaret Mercado and Josephine Pinzari; stepson Paul Hernandez; 11 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Greenhaven Memorial Park. No flowers.

Aileen H. Ozaki, 63, of Pearl City, retired president of Aloha Sheetmetal Inc., died Nov. 15 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Honalo, North Kona, she is survived by husband William; daughters Jo-Ann T. Ozaki, Donna Y.O. Hunt and Karen K. Ozaki; brothers Harold T. and Ronald Kurihara; sister Helene H. Rogers; and four grandchildren. Memorial services: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 6 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Herbert S. Shimada, 81, of Honolulu, a retired plaster mason, died Monday in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Ellen A.; sons Stanley H., Melvin S. and Norman T.; sister Currine K. Sakamoto; and five grandchildren. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary.

Betty R. Takushi, 60, of Kaneohe died Sunday in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Makawao, Maui, she is survived by son Mark T.; brothers Saburo, Shiro, Goro and Rokuro Nakasone; sister Sayo Chun; and four grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Tuesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary.

Yvonne A. Tanigawa, 58, of Lahaina, an employee of Napili Kai Resorts, died Saturday. She is survived by brother Fred; and sisters Alice Husen, Margaret Totten, Helen Beery, Paggie Kellner and Rose Mueggler. Services: 3 p.m. Monday at Nakamura Mortuary. Burial: Maui Memorial Park.

Robert N. Texeira, 58, of Wailua, Kauai, a U.S. Navy retiree, died Tuesday in Tripler Army Hospital. Born in Lihue, he is survived by wife Makiko T.; son Robert; sister Margaret Bernades; and two grandchildren. Mass: 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Kapaa, Kauai. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: St. Catherine’s Catholic Church Cemetery. Aloha attire.

Ted S. Waiwaiole, 50, of Ewa Beach, a customer service agent with Aloha Airlines, died Nov. 4 in California. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Lucille; father Samuel K.; and sister Nanette Watabayashi. Memorial services: 10 a.m. Monday at Ewa Beach Church of the Nazarene, 91-913 Papipi Place, Ewa Beach. Call after 8 a.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

William H. Wong, 77, of Honolulu, a retired cook for Hilton Hawaiian Village, died Saturday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Middleborough, Mass., he is survived by wife June; sons Raymond Wong and Franklin T.M. Lee; daughters Dora Lee-Dunn and Mary Ann Y.U. Hew; brother Herbert; sisters May Ling, Elizabeth Wong and Florence Chan; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services: noon Monday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Aloha attire.

Diane A. Yamamoto, 27, of Honolulu, a computer operator for Wilson Okamoto & Associates, died Nov. 13 in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by parents Gary K. Yamamoto, and Maughn and Dorene Matsuoka; grandparents Matsuyo Yamamoto, and Asaharu “Tani” and Doris Nakamura. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Sunday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary.