Saturday, May 10, 1997

Robert Kimura, veteran,
lawyer, state legislator

By Star-Bulletin staff

Robert Y. Kimura, 72, a former lawyer and state legislator, died April 29 in Tripler Hospital.

Kimura represented Alewa Heights and Pauoa in the state House from 1968 to 1976, serving as majority floor leader in his last term. He lost several subsequent bids for elective office.

He was an active member of the Democratic Party. Before being elected in 1968, he had been appointed state milk commissioner, and spent eight years as state Senate attorney.

In 1977, he was supported by the Hawaii congressional delegation as a candidate for U.S. attorney, but he withdrew his name.

In 1988, former Chief Justice Herman Lum appointed him to a two-year term as part-time District Court judge.

Kimura was a graduate of the University of Hawaii and Northwestern University School of Law. He was in private law practice for 31 years until 1992. He resigned from the practice of law in lieu of disciplinary action by the Hawaii Supreme Court’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

He retired as a major with the Army Special Forces and U.S. Army Reserve, serving in World War II and the Korean War. He was formerly president of the Oahu Pop Warner Football league.

He is survived by his wife, Elsie; sons Robert Y. Jr. and Arnold T.; daughters Kimberly H. Christy and Pamela S. Kimura; brothers Takashi and Benjamin; sisters, Shigeko Kushima, Ann Takano, Alice Kohatsu and Florence Hirakawa; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Internment services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. The family asks that flowers be omitted and casual attire be worn.

Helen O. Akagi, 87, of Honolulu died Wednesday at home. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by daughter-in-law and caregiver Kim; and granddaughter Cheryl. Graveside services: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Diamond Head Memorial Park.

Ed Hanna, 69, of Kekaha, Kauai, a retired submariner and electronic technician, died Thursday in Kauai Veterans Hospital. Born in Taunton, Mass., he is survived by wife Liese; sister Dorothy Cordeiro; and brothers William and Jack. Services: 2 p.m. Monday at Garden Island Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to the Kauai Humane Society or the Salvation Army.

Dr. Samuel M. Haraguchi, 83, of Hilo, a retired general practitioner, died Thursday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Hilo, he is survived by wife Irene; son John P.; daughter Mary L.; stepson Randal Wung; brothers Paul Y. and Herbert; and sisters Doris Wong and Evelyn Matsuura. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Private burial. Casual attire. No flowers.

John M. Kaohelaulii, 60, of Kaneohe, died Monday in Anahola, Kauai. Incorrect information for an obituary published yesterday provided by the mortuary.

Col. Roland S. “Frog” Merrill, 60, of Honolulu, a retired Marine Corps aviator, died Wednesday in Honolulu. Born in St. Louis, he is survived by wife Gail; sons Jack and Matthew; daughter Elizabeth; mother Ruth; and brother Hubert. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Star of the Sea Church. Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Casual attire.

Myung S. Paik, 69, of Honolulu, a Christ United Methodist Church deacon, died Thursday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in China, she is survived by husband Mark; son Young; daughter Ena Noh; four sisters; and five grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Christ Methodist Church. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Mercy M.M.V. Rabelas, 87, of Hanapepe Heights, Kauai, died Wednesday. Born in Koloa, Kauai, she is survived by son Raymond Pantorilla Jr.; daughters Shirley Martin, Nancy Valente, Dora Hagabat, Clara Tacub and Emily Paruginog; 30 grandchildren; 76 great-grandchildren; and 30 great-great-grandchildren. Mass: 4 p.m. Wednesday at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Kekaha.

Mitsugi Saiki, 84, of Honolulu, a retired house painter, died May 2 in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Koloa, Kauai, he is survived by wife Fumiko; son Glenn T.; daughter Kathryn Y. Oda; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Services: 8 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Fermino Q. Vidal, 90, of Waimanalo, a retired groundskeeper of the old Honolulu Stadium, died last Saturday in Kaiser Hospital. Born in Calape, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Dolores; sons Anthony LeBron and Fermino I. Vidal Jr.; daughters Judy Spencer and Acela Disalvo; many grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

Miki Williams, 76, of Honolulu, a retired salesclerk with Liberty House, died May 2 in Honolulu. Born in Oita, Japan, she is survived by daughter Rita W. Snyder; and two grandchildren. Services: 2 p.m. Monday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Casual attire.

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Monday, May 12, 1997

Gary F. Barros, 33, of Kailua, an Aikahi Sizzler Restaurant cook, died last Saturday in Kailua. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by son Christopher; daughter Kayla; father Thomas; brothers Thomas Jr., Wyman and Lance; and sister Amber Crivello. Service: 7 p.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Scattering of ashes: 10 a.m. next Saturday at Lanikai Boat Ramp. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Burtis M. Dougherty, 79, of Alexandria, Va., rector emeritus of St Mark’s Episcopal Church, died Sunday at the Collington Episcopal Life Care Community in Mitchellville, Md. He also had served as canon of St. Andrew’s Cathedral and as a chaplain at St. Andrew’s Priory and the University of Hawaii. Born in Rochester, N.Y., he is survived by son Burtis and three grandchildren. Services on the mainland. Donations suggested to Collington Fellowship Fund, 301-925-9610.

Flora P. Frigillana, 71, of Pearl City died May 1 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Hilo, she is survived by sons John Jr. and Glenn; daughters Johanna Frigillana and Debra Wan; brothers Bernardo Queja and Armenio Queja; sisters Abbey

Robertson, Lapas Tabuyo and Elizabeth Magie; 16 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. on Tuesday and after 8 a.m. Wednesday. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Frederick H. “Fred” Goff, 83, of Honolulu, a retired Merchant Marines electrical engineer, died last Tuesday in Honolulu. Born on Rhode Island, he is survived by wife Ina; and stepson Lionel Craven. No services. Donations may be made to the Catholic Charities.

Dorothy K. Hayasaka, 82, of Wahiawa, a retired co-owner/proprietor of Jimmy’s Place, died on May 1 at home. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sons Melvin H., Henry S. and James T.; daughter Joyce T. Mimura; sister Amy Siguenza; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Wednesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Toshimitsu Matsumoto, 92, of Hilo, a retired self-employed fisherman, died Friday in the Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Keaau, Hawaii, he is survived by son Kirby T.; daughters Melva Kujubu and Fay Nako; brothers Mitsuru “Jerry”, Torao and Sueo; sisters Hatsue Ninomiya, Tatsuko Matsumoto and Kazue Matsumoto; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Services: 4 p.m. Tuesday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Call after 3 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

George Miyashiro, 73, of Honolulu, a retired Honolulu shipyard sheet metal worker, died May 2 at home. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Elsie Y.; son Lester; daughter Lynn Neal; brothers Jack and Barry; sisters Chiyoko Ito, June Miyasato, Barbara Stone-Miller, Violet Ono and Ruth Fujioka; and one grandson. Private services.

Lawrence K. Nagatori, 83, of Honolulu, a retired owner of Liberty Shoes, Inc., died May 3 in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Keauhou, Kona, he is survived by wife Katherine K.; sons James T. and Glenn T.; daughters Lorraine K. Nakano and Ellen M. Nagatori; brothers Phillip, Francis and Norman; sisters Sueko Tanaka and Florence Golden; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Services: 4 p.m. tomorrow at Makiki Christian Church. Casual attire. No flowers.

Takashi Nakamura, 75, of Honolulu died April 30. Born in Kapaa, Kauai, he is survived by brothers Takao and Yoshito. Private services.