Obituaries

Saturday, March 20, 1999

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Rusty Holt, 94,
avid sportsman,
deep local roots

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Lemon “Rusty” Wond Holt used to gather reef surgeonfish, sea urchins, seaweed and soft-flesh coconuts for Queen Liliuokalani when she came to visit his grandmother. One of the last surviving kamaaina members of the “Stonewall Gang” -- youngsters who frequented Waikiki Beach in the early 1900s -- he died March 12 in St. Francis Hospice, where he had gone as a patient three days before. He was 94. Born Sept. 22, 1904, in the Lemon family's Waikiki home on Kalakaua Avenue across from Kuhio Beach, he recalled Queen Liliuokalani coming to visit his grandmother, Mary Ann Wond Lemon, a classmate of Liliuokalani's at the Royal School. He also knew Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole. Because the boy was a good swimmer, the prince sometimes took him tandem-surfing on his koa longboard. Holt was an avid surfer into his mid-70s, still riding waves at his childhood surfing rounds off Kuhio Beach.

Throughout most of the 1960s, he served as manager of the Kamehameha Schools general stores.

Holt attended Kamehameha School for Boys when it was located in the present Bishop Museum building. He earned his tuition from the sixth grade on by raising pigs.

An athlete at Kamehameha and later at the University of Hawaii, he was on a Kamehameha football team that set a scoring record that still stands, defeating Honolulu Military Academy 104-0.

A versatile halfback, he was the mainstay of Otto Klum's champion UH football teams in 1927, 1928 and 1929 and was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.

“There is a lot of sentimentality and illusion about living and fame,” he wrote in 1997. “(But) it's being useful and happy that is really important. That's the long and short of it.”

His late wife was Gladys Ah Lin Tam Holt of Maui. He is survived by son Lemon W. “Russ” Holt Jr., daughter Scioto WondaHolt; 13 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.

Private services. Ashes to be scattered at a later date off Waikiki opposite the site of his Waikiki birthplace and childhood home.

Gilbert S. Ah Sam, 70, of Kailua, a retired Pearl Harbor Naval Base police officer, died yesterday in Queen's Hospital. Born on Maui, he is survived by sons Gilbert Jr. and Thomas; daughters Kathleen Gagnon and the Rev. Gail Kamakahi; brothers Walter, Ralph, Jerry and Richard; sister Betty Jane Dondoma; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Mass: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua. Call from 8:45 to 10:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire.

Mary K. Apiki, 85, of Waianae, a retired custodian of Nanaikapono Elementary School, died Wednesday in Kaiser Hospital. Born in Waihinu, Hawaii, she is survived by daughter Joyce U. Puou, sister Laura Hanamaikai, four grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild. Services held.

Marcella Benjamin, 85, of Honolulu died Tuesday in Queen's Hospital. Born in Pennsylvania, she is survived by sister Beatricx MacGregor, nieces Heather MacGregor and Jeanie Dampier, grandnieces and grandnephews. Private services.

Denver A.F. Bowen died Tuesday. She is survived by parents Daniel M. Bowen and Darlene F. Lindo, grandmother Isabelle Helbig-Bowen, great-grandmother Mrs. “Lady” Philip Helbig, grandfather Edward Jr. and great-grandfather Edward “Fav.” Celebration of life on the mainland.

Victor Y.S. Chong, 76, of Niles, Ill. died March 7 in Niles. Born in Canton, China, he is survived by wife Sue, sons Williams and Richard, daughters Susan Steinmaier and Lillian Casey, brother Mun For, and six grandchildren. Taoist services: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. No flowers.

Adele N.L. Culver, 84, of Honolulu is survived by son Gregory A., daughter Madison M. Spotts, brother Raymond Larkey, sister Connie Uselman and eight grandchildren. Additional information for an obituary published yesterday provided by the mortuary.

Eugenio B. Dela Cruz, 71, of Honolulu died Feb. 26 in Maluhia Care Home. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by wife Virginia, two sons, a daughter, three brothers, a sister, and three grandchildren. Services held.

Charlotte S. Duvel, 96, of Lihue, a docent at Grove Farm Homestead, died March 1. She was also employed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by daughter-in-law Barbara D. Fox, three grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 5 p.m. March 29 at Lihue United Church. Scattering of ashes at a later date. No flowers. Donations suggested to the church.

John J. “Big John” Franklin Jr., 68, of Honolulu, a retired staff sergeant from the U.S. Army, died Monday in Kuakini Hospital. He also retired from Wailana Coffee House. Born in Virginia, he is survived by wife Evelyn; son Michael; daughters Gloria F. Castro and Therese and Sheila Franklin; sisters Carrie Wallace and Elizabeth Brown; 16 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire.

Philip D. Kaluna, 96, of Honolulu, a retired draftsman and cartographer for the state Department of Taxation, died March 7. He was also a retired Hawaiian translator for Security Title & Trust Co. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by ex-wife Loretta; daughter Carol Apple-Kaluna; son Philip Jr.; nine brothers and sisters, including Teresa, Kuelie and Joe; and four grandchildren. Graveside services: 10:45 a.m. today at Diamond Head Memorial Park.

Herbert M. Kasaoka, 81, of Pearl City, a retired store room clerk at Queen's Hospital, died Wednesday in Straub Hospital. Born in Kahuku, he is survived by wife Momoyo; sons Howard H., Harold T., Andrew M. and David K.; sisters Sueno Murakami and Kiyoko Katto; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Greenhaven Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

Susan A. Lansdale, 55, of Princeville, Kauai, a restaurant proprietor, died March 10 in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Born in California, she is survived by son Timmy, daughter Lauri Kirel and father William. Services: noon Wednesday at Hanalei Pier Pavilion. Casual attire.

William H. Luahiwa, 60, of Reno, Nev., formerly of Honolulu, died Feb. 26. Born in North Kohala, Hawaii, he is survived by sons Lester and Larry; daughters Lynn Dell Gunderson and Leann Luahiwa; brothers Abraham Nahale‘a, William and Charles Akiona and Cecil Luahiwa; sisters Lorraine Castro and Valentine Grace; and four grandchildren. Services: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at His Highest Praise Honolulu, 423 Kamakee. Private scattering of ashes. Casual attire. No flowers.

Ginger T. Martin, 35, of Haleiwa died Feb. 17. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by mother Jane E., father Stanley J. and sister Melanie A. Martin-Lewis. Services over ashes: 11 a.m. Friday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. No flowers.

Hinayo Ohata, 93, of Waialua died March 10 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, she is survived by son Masao; daughters Betty C. Takahashi, Elsie M. Hirota and Linda S. Nishimura; brother Toyoshi Oride; sisters Yasuko Maekawa and Toshiko Otsuka; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Private services.

Crispolo M. Paned, 75, of Ewa Beach died March 8 in St. Francis-West Hospital. Born in Ewa, he is survived by wife Estefania; sons Efren S., Pedro D. and Davy D.; daughters Rosita P. Castillo and Adelina P. Sagucio; sister Maria Elena M. Valdez; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Rosary: 7 p.m. Monday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: noon Tuesday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 91-1004 North Road. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Ruby J. Schurman, 86, of Honolulu died March 7 in Queen's Hospital. Born in Arcadia, Kan., she is survived by daughter Ramona Reyes-Akamine, sister Millie Warmbrodt, two grandsons, and a great- grandson. Private services.

Pauline F. Sherman, 88, of Wahiawa, a driver with Angels On Wheels, died Thursday in Wahiawa General Hospital. She was a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and a “gray lady” with the American Red Cross. Born in Barneveld, N.Y., she is survived by sons Duncan Seaman and Thomas “Bucky” Sherman III, daughter Pauline Leigh, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 6 p.m. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Brenda L.I. Simeona, 33, of Hilo died Wednesday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Hilo, she is survived by parents Alfred and Jeanette M.; brothers Dudley Nahooikaika and Keith, Brian, Alfred K., Hiram K. and Charles Simeona; and sisters Lena L. Paulos, Cheryl Simeona and Dianne Gomes. Wake services: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Prayer services: 10 a.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire. No flowers.

Andrew T. Takaki, 16, of Wailuku, a student at Baldwin High School, died Wednesday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Hilo, he is survived by father Wayne, sisters AnhThu and Thao Nguyen, and grandmother Rose. Services: noon Tuesday at Nakamura Mortuary. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Mele H. Tongi, 25, of Honolulu died Tuesday in Queen's Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband Lahanitani “Tani”; son Alexander; daughters Syria, Leimakamai and Vivian; brother Noa Taulanga; and parents Mapa and Siosi. Service: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Other services on the mainland. No flowers.

Jose A. Tubera, 72, of Ewa Beach died March 7 in Nuuanu Hale Hospital. Born in Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Ana T.; sons Jose, Raynaldo, Mario and Bonifacio; daughters Emma Alonso and Mercolina Salvante; sisters Sally Pascua, Violeta Manapat, Pacifica Garcia and Remegios Lucas; and 14 grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 91-1004 North Road in Ewa Beach. Call after 9:15 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Jose C. Villegas, 78, of Ewa Beach is also survived by mother Casamira C. He was born in Ilocos Sol, the Philippines. Additional information for an obituary published Wednesday provided by the mortuary.

DEATHS ELSEWHERE

Tofilau Eti Alesana, former prime minister of Samoa, died yesterday at his home in Apia. He was 74.

His nephew, American Samoa Gov. Tauese Sunia, confirmed the death. Tofilau died at about 10:45 a.m. at Nafanua, the official residence of the prime minister.

Tofilau, who served 15 years as prime minister of the former Western Samoa, resigned in November after undergoing cancer treatment in New Zealand. He was succeeded by Tuilaepa Sallele Malielegaoi.