Cement innovator
By Harold Morse
Howard R. Starke dies
Star-BulletinHoward R. Starke, first president of Hawaiian Cement, died Sept. 13.
He was 94.
An industry leader, advances he helped make are viewed as engineering breakthroughs in the use of concrete.
Starke graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1927.
He joined Riverside Cement Co. in California, where he and two colleagues developed a chemical formula for a low-heat cement for use in large structures. The new cement won immediate favor and was used by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in making possible the construction of Hoover Dam.
Starke came to Hawaii in 1960. He was involved in the design, engineering and construction of the Hawaiian Cement Co. plant at Barbers Point. He was the firm's first president, remaining in that position until 1965, when he joined Hellenic Cement Co. in Patras, Greece.
He later established another cement plant in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
After 43 years in the industry, he retired in Hawaii, indulging his favorite avocation, the growing of award-winning cattleya orchids.
He is survived by his wife, Angela, and a cousin, Jean Bartel Hogue of Los Angeles.
Memorial donations may be made in his name to Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble, P.O. Box 235319, Honolulu, HI 96823.
Agnes S. Abbatiello, 76, of Pacific Palisades, a retired snack bar manager at Hickam Air Force Base, died Wednesday in Pearl City. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Salvatore; sons Kenneth Jr. and Francis Bagano; brother Peter Starkey Jr.; sisters Angeline S. Mokuau and Virginia Ravelo, and three grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 5:30 p.m. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery. Aloha attire. Wilhelmina M. Among, 61, of Ewa Beach died Sunday in St. Francis-West Hospice. She was born in Kahuku. She is survived by brothers Francis, Dennis and Alexander, and sisters Helen Chong, Rachel Mattoon and Winona Choy. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Church, 99-312 Moanalua Road. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: 12:45 p.m. at Diamond Head Memorial Park.
Julian F. Bayagas, 91, of Honolulu, a retired state electrician, died Monday in St. Francis Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by care- givers Macario Dela Cruz and Gary Martin and family. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Edwin K. Chan, 84, of Honolulu died Tuesday in Honolulu. He was born in Lahaina, Maui. He is survived by wife Masako R.; daughters Gwendolyn L.Y.Young and Robin M. Chan; sons Edwin K. and Allen H.; sisters Fannie Schick and Mary Yamamoto; brother Alex, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 5:30 p.m. Casual attire.
Clarence C. Ching, 83, of Honolulu, a retired inspector with the Board of Water Supply, died Sept. 15 in Honolulu. He was born in Hawaii. He is survived by wife Julia; daughters Anna Mae Ng and T.H. Ching; sisters Elsie Caires, Hannah Miyachi and Louise Peardow; brother Rubin MaLig, and three grandchildren. Private services.
George L. Ching, 72, of Honolulu died Sept. 2 in Queen's Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Gladys; sons Keith, Wesley, Randall and Dwayne; brother Harry; sisters Mabel Wortley, Thelma Palmer and Harriett Ching, and grandchildren. Private services.
Albert W. Dela Cruz, 66, of Arizona and formerly of Pearl City, who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, died Sept. 16 in Arizona. He was also a bartender for Chuck's, Pearlridge. He was born in Wahiawa. He is survived by daughters Jaci Dela Cruz Jensen, Yvonne and Elke Dela Cruz and Linda Sullivan; brothers Donald Ranario and Ron N. Dela Cruz; sisters Bernadette Nii and Patricia Dela Vega, and five grandchildren. Prayer services: 7 p.m. Monday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at the mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: 11:30 a.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Casual attire.
Francine T. Doi, 46, of Mililani, a support services specialist for the state Department of Human Services, died Sunday in St. Francis-West Hospice. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Alan T.; daughters Jessica M. and Amanda A.; parents Walter and Torayo Nomura; brother Andrew T. Nomura, and sisters Faith T. Burgess and Anita J. Steigerwald. Memorial services: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 5:30 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
George A. Howe, 85, of Lahaina, a salesman, died Tuesday at home. He was born in Oklahoma. He is survived by son Larry; brothers David and Sam, and four grandchildren. Private services.
Yu Ying Huang, 73, of Honolulu died last Friday in St. Francis Hospital. She was born in China. She is survived by husband Tian Ye Zhang; sons Fong Wing and Fung Chiu Cheung; daughters Fung Yee and Fung Chan Wong, Fung Shee Chang and Fund Lan Yee; brothers Sing Ho, Sing Kum and Sheng You Huang, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Taoist services: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Harry T. Ito, 69, of Honolulu, who retired from Lanakila Crafts, died Sept. 6 in the Rehabilitation Center of the Pacific. He was born in Waipouli, Kauai. He is survived by brother George, and sisters Margaret Satsuma, Helen Kageyama and Edna Kudo. Private services.
Lucy Kandasamy, 72, a retired high school teacher and principal, died Tuesday in Queen's Hospital. She was born in Foochow, China. She is survived by husband V. Kandasamy; daughters Sharmini and Ranjini; sons David and Paul; brothers Martin and John; sisters Julia and Nqncy; a stepmother, and six grandchildren. Services: 5:30 today at First United Methodist Church.
Herman N.K. Kauhi, 63, of Kaneohe, a retired communications specialist from the Federal Aviation Administration, died Tuesday in Kaiser Hospital. He was born in Puna, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Yone; son Keoua; daughters Christine, Laura, Sophia Hackett and Simone Clark; mother Emma; brothers Gilbert and Allen, and eight grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Cremation to follow.
Teysia Y. Lara, infant daughter of Aaron R. Lara and Jacqueline S. Lucas died Monday in Kaiser Hospital. She is also survived by grandparents Willard Seshiki, Geraldine Lara, Pedrito A.S. Lucas and Juliet Segundo, and great-grandparents Barbara Taira, Juanita Lara, Teofila Lucas and Encarnacion Segundo. Prayer services: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Good Shepherd Church in Wailuku. Call after 7 p.m. Graveside services: 9 a.m. Monday at Maui Memorial Park.
Joanna Limpahan, 47, of Hilo, a former office manager for Kapiolani Community College, died Sunday in Hilo Hospital. She was also a former driver's aide for Laupahoehoe Transportation Inc. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Sean H. and Shannon K.K.C. Pacheco; daughters Diane Forsythe and Dawnelle K.L. Pacheco; mother Martha; brothers Theodore Jr., Ellery K., Dave K. and Jonathan K.; sisters Donna M. Medeiros, Deborah L. Turner and Audrey L. Kimura, and five grandchildren. Private services.
Oceana Madeyski, 34, of Honolulu is also survived by daughter Monique "Mapuana," grandfather Rudolph and stepfather Ronald Rivera. Additional information for an obituary published yesterday was provided by the mortuary.
Dennis "C.B." Matthews, 54, of Kona, Hawaii, a self-employed handyman, died Sept. 7. He was also a U.S. Army veteran. He was born in San Diego. He is survived by daughter Melissa; brother Gary, and sisters Nancy Blanton and Carolyn Burke. Memorial services: noon Sunday at Old Kona Airport. Call from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Potluck gathering to follow. Casual attire. Monetary tributes welcome.
Larry K. "Koji" Miyasato, 74, of Honolulu is survived by sisters Chiyo Ishiki, Ive Rietzow, Kiyoko Nakandakare and Mitsue M. Tanouye. Incorrect information for the obituary published yesterday was provided by the mortuary.
Kaleo A. Naipo, 44, of Koloa, Kauai, a musician, died last Friday in Wilcox Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by daughters Lady Elizabeth Naipo and Annie Garrett; son Benjamin Garrett; mother Eliza; brothers Lopaka and Kamakapu Naipo and Kaniala Amassi; sisters Kehau Lavatai, Mapuana Naipo, Haunani Mamea, Kaui Neves, Leanora Sili and Eliza Bird, and a granddaughter. Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Borthwick/Kauai Mortuary. Call from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Services: 11 a.m. next Friday at Borthwick Mortuary in Honolulu. Call from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Cremation to follow. Aloha attire.
Benito T. Pascual, 78, of Waipahu died last Friday in Straub Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Hortencia R.; sons Francis, Domingo, Benjamin and Nerie; daughters Lilia Niro, Rosita Mateo, Tessie Gaoiran, Anita Rumbaoa, Minda Tagari and Mildred Pascua, 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Wake services: 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 11:45 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
James J. Patacsil, 75, of Honolulu is survived by stepdaughters Charlene Ahn and Cookie Kawelo. Incorrect information for the obituary published yesterday was provided by the mortuary.
Nathalie "Bobbie" Sai, 71, of Aiea died Sunday in Honolulu. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband John K.; daughter Naomi McCullough; sister Gwendolyn Silva, and brother Louis Kamalii Jr. Private inurnment.
Julius "Peck" Sinai, 74, of Kailua, a retired airline engineer, died Sept. 21 in Kailua. He was born in Imreg, Czechoslavakia. He is survived by wife Ruth; daughters Joann Fisher and Lisa Kodama, and three grandchildren. Memorial services: 8 a.m. Wednesday at Kailua Beach, across from Buzz's Steak House. In lieu of flowers, donations aresuggested to the American Heart Association.
Howard Sussman, 59, of Kaneohe, a self-employed rehabilitation specialist with Pacific Basin Services, died yesterday in St. Francis Hospital. He was also a chaplain at Watabe Wedding Chapel. He was born in Boston. He is survived by wife Nancy McCary; brother Tim Kroll, and sister Gloria Silverman. Memorial services: 5 p.m. next Friday at Unity Church, Diamond Head.
Robert Y. "Bobby" Tanaka, 31, of Wailuku, Maui, a real estate agent for Maui Realty Co., died Wednesday in Maui Memorial Hospital. He was also a financial planner. He was born in Los Angeles. He is survived by parents Kameo and Mellie; daughter Tiare Suzuki-Tanaka; brothers Kevin K. and James K.; companion Kristy Suzuki, and grandmother Femy Del Rosario. Mass: noon tomorrow at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Call after 10:30 a.m. Cremation to follow.
Exuperto B. Tejero, 60, of Honolulu will be remembered in services at 7 o'clock tonight at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 8:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Incorrect information was published in the obituary published Monday.
Stephanie F. Willing, 107, of Honolulu died Tuesday in Honolulu. She was born in Hawaii. She is survived by niece Anna Mae Koseki. Services: 10:15 a.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.
You can also search the Hawaii State Library System's
Hawaii Newspaper Index online for older obituaries at:
http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/education/hcc/library/hiindex.html
The index, which goes back several decades,
is available via Telnet software.
