Sharpless, city manager
under Fasi, dies at 86

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Richard K. Sharpless, 86, city managing director at two different times under Mayor Frank Fasi, died Saturday at his home in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Paul Devens, a longtime colleague, who also served as managing director under Mayor Fasi from 1973 to 1975, recalled him as unique: “He was one of a kind in every sense of the word, a unique individual always the gentleman, always the scholar.”

Devens said: “I really couldn’t find a fault with him. That’s why I say he’s one of a kind, because we all have faults. Dick seemed to be the exception.”

Devens was corporation counsel in the first Fasi administration from 1969 to 1973. Earlier he and Sharpless were in private practice in the same law firm.

Born in Springdale, Pa., Sharpless was a descendant of John Sharples of Cheshire, England, who came to Pennsylvania with its founder William Penn in 1682. He also was a descendant of Robert Coe of Suffolkshire, England, who came to Boston as a member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634.

His education included a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and law degree from Harvard. He entered a Pittsburgh law firm in 1936. He was admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and eventually California, Hawaii and federal courts up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

He entered the Army in 1942, becoming judge advocate, Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu. After World War II and legal work in California, he returned to Honolulu in 1948, eventually winning appointment as a territorial deputy attorney general in 1949, later becoming assistant attorney general and attorney general.

In 1957, he returned to private practice. In 1969, he was appointed managing director by Fasi. He became city corporation counsel in 1973 and managing director again in 1975. He was appointed corporation counsel once again by Mayor Fasi in 1978, remaining in that post until his 1980 retirement. He moved to Chapel Hill in 1981.

Active in the Bar Association of Hawaii, later called the Hawaii State Bar Association, he was elected its president in 1960. His time in Hawaii also included many civic activities and positions with the Episcopal Church. He took up similar activities after moving to Chapel Hill. He received appointment as assistant to the town attorney of Chapel Hill in 1984, remaining in that post until September 1993.

He is survived by wife Jean S.; son Richard K. Jr.; daughters Kendall D. and Lincoln K. Sharpless; brothers Ridgway V. and Charles T. Sharpless Jr.; and one grandchild.

Services will be in Chapel Hill next week. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514, or St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 1515 Wilder Ave., Honolulu 96822.

Charles H. Aki Jr., 89, of Hilo, a retired Hilo Electric Light Co. employee, died May 2. Born in Naalehu, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Esther; son Charles III; daughter Charlotte Lee; brother George; sisters Minnie Mark and Sarah Mitsuda; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1856 Kinoole St. Farewell: 1 p.m. Sunday at Hilo Bayfront. Casual attire. No flowers.

Miyoko Ariyoshi, 96, of Honolulu, a retired Libby’s Cannery trimmer, died May 5 in Maluhia Hospital. She is survived by sons Kazuo, Richard T., Buster K., Gilbert M. and Robert T.; daughters Winifred T. Morimoto and Virginia A. Inouye; sister Mrs. Yoshiko Kashiwai; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Private services.

Harry L. Deane, 94, of Honolulu, a retired Oahu Transport office manager and attorney in Nebraska, died April 27 in Kaiser Hospital. Born in Nebraska, he is survived by sisters Doris Bennett and Ethe Axthelm. Memorial service: 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Central Union Church. Aloha attire. Donations suggested to the Central Union Church, Shriners Hospital for Children or charity.

Chisato Fujimoto, 93, of Hilo, a retired Hawaii Volcanoes National Park employee, died Friday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Olaa, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Helen H.; son Douglas J.; daughters Harriet Hori and Jean Taniguchi; sister Kishiko Miyamoto; and three grandchildren. Memorial services: 4:30 p.m. tomorrow at Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. Call after 3:30 p.m. Casual attire.

Eugene E. Galeon, 85, of Honolulu, a retired Royal Hawaiian Hotel waiter, died Thursday at home. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by sons Randall and Kevin; daughters Sharon Mika and Mallory Pasion; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. Friday and 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Friday and after 9 a.m. Saturday. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery. Casual attire.

James S. “Canuto” Gaspar, 72, of Honolulu died April 28 in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Petra; sons Enrique and Jeffrey; daughters Violet Gaspar, Merlina Santella, and Marvelyn Gaspar; brothers Bernardino, Atilano and Pedro; sisters Avelina Uy, Rosemarie Racho, Remedios Serna, Herminia G. Solis and Laureana G. Flores; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 9 a.m. Saturday at St. John the Baptist Church, 2324 Omilo Lane. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Isabel G. Gomes, 89, of Honolulu, a retired Kaimuki Christian School teacher, died Friday in Straub Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sisters Emilie Meads and Margaret Gomes; and brother William Gomes. Mass: 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Star of the Sea Church. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park.

Carl C. Juan, 72, of Aiea, a retired Aiea High School teacher, died Thursday in Queen’s Hospital. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by wife Stella; son Clayton C.; daughter Cory Hayashikawa; sister Cora Miller; and two grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.

Dana M.K.A. Kalaukoa, 33, of Honolulu died May 3 in Honolulu. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by companion Brian Monaghan; son Dante Cameron; mother Bernadette; sisters Jana Box, Marcella Young and Bernadette L. Naipo; brothers Donald P. Kalaukoa and James Cameron. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at St. Pius X Church, 2949 Kahawai St. Call after 9:30 a.m. Scattering of ashes to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

George Y. Kondo, 79, of Kahului, a retired Kahului Trucking & Storage Co. administrative cashier, died Sunday at home. Born in Kahului, he is survived by wife Reiko; daughters Aileen K. Sato, Laurie Y. Kondo and Wendy Y.K. Kobashigawa; sister Otone Ichiriu; and two grandchildren. Service over ashes: 5 p.m. tomorrow at Kahului Hongwanji Mission. Casual attire. No flowers.

William Y. Kusumoto, 92, of Kahului, a retired state Department of Health sanitation inspector, died Thursday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Olaa, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Edith H.; son David H.; daughter Ruth M.K. Garnett; and four grandchildren. Service over ashes: 11 a.m. Thursday at Kahului Union Church. Casual attire. No flowers.

Peter K. Moku Jr., 49, of Waimanalo, a mason, died May 4 in Kailua. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by son Peter K. Moku III; daughters Shontaz L.Y.M. Benjamin and Shannell K.Y. Moku; mother Mildred K.S. Naeone; brother David Chang; sisters Twyla K. Uina and Michele I. Knight; and two grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Thursday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Cremation will follow. Private scattering of ashes. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Toshio “Harry” Murakami, 66, of Kahului died Monday at home. Born in Paia, Maui, he is survived by wife Harriet; sons Dale Yokoyama and Brian Murakami; brothers Howard, Robert, Hirotada and Melvin; and one grandchild. Service over ashes: 5 p.m. Thursday at Kahului Hongwanji Mission. Casual attire. No wreaths.

Ayako Oda, 83, of Honolulu died last Tuesday at home. Born in Gardena, Calif., she is survived by husband Mamoru; sons Richard M., James K., William M. and Walter A.; daughter Lillian F. Tamura; and three grandchildren. Services: 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

Matsu Ogimi, 97, of Honolulu died May 2 at home. Born on Okinawa, she is survived by sons Chotaro and Curtis C.; daughters Vivian S. Ige, Diane T. Ogimi, Loretta C. Arakaki, Patsy F. Solomon, Matsue Bergen and Rose A. Hirahara; brother Ryokichi Kuwaye; sisters Toshiko Nakazato and Yoshiko Kamehama; 29 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Friday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Natsu Okino, 93, of Honolulu, a retired owner/proprietor of Okino Cleaners, died April 28. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, she is survived by sons Atsushi and Shigeru; and daughter Agnes. Private services.

Yasuyo Oshita, 97, longtime Kauai resident, died Wednesday in Wilcox Hospital. Born in Kapaa, Kauai, she is survived by son James T.; daughters Mitsuko Higashiyama and Jane Matsuo; brother Asaichi Yasuda; sister Edna Oshita; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Private services.

Francisca P. Pagala, 82, of Aiea, died May 3 in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Pinili, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, she is survived by daughter Hermie Bolivar; sons Augorio, Alfred and Ismael; sisters Concordia Vermudez, Jovita Grande and Felicitas Fagarang; 20 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. Mass: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at St. Theresa’s Co-Cathedral. Call from 6 p.m. Service: 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Call from 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Norman A. Peterson, 59, of Honolulu, a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Mixed Local 665, died Wednesday in Straub Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by father Louis H. Peterson Sr.; brother Louis H. Jr.; sisters Kaena and Annette Peterson, Momi Phillips and Elaine Cummings; and three grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Thursday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 5:30. Private inurnment.

J. Walter Silver Sr., 90, of Hilo, a retired supervisor with Onomea and Hakalau Sugar Co. and car salesman for Hilo Motors, died Friday in Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Papaikou, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Maude B.; sons James W. Jr.; brother David; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Burial: Homelani Memorial Park.

Satya P. Sood, 74, of Kailua, a retired University of Hawaii, Hilo Campus, chemistry professor, died May 5 in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Penjab, India, he is survived by wife Hildegard; brothers Mohinder P. Sood, Khush B.R. Sood, Shashi B. Sood, and Surjeet K. Sud; sisters Savitri D. Sood, Kaushalaya D. Sood, Santosh K. Sood, Mohinder K. Sud, Sudarshan K. Sood and Nirmala K. Mohindra. Private services held. Hilo services to held at a later date.

Cesario R. Suan, 86, a retired welder, died April 16 in California. He will be remembered at the end of services: 6:20 a.m. May 19-23, 7 a.m. May 24, and 9:30 a.m. May 25 at St. Joseph’s Church, 94-651 Farrington Highway, Waipahu. Memorial services on the mainland. Additional information for an obit published Friday.

William M. “Buster” Swinney, 78, of Maili, Waianae, a retired Pearl Harbor pipefitter, died Thursday in Kaiser Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Edna; sons William M. Swinney Jr. and Melton Beach; daughters Francine M. Hess, Kathleen A. Fowler and Shirley A. Hood; sister Edna DeBord; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. Thursday at Sacred Hearts Church in Waianae. Call after 6 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Hanayo Tomota, 69, of Kauai, a retired Oahu schoolteacher, died last Tuesday in Honolulu. Born in Lihue, she is survived by brothers Satoru and Harold; and sister Norma Okamura. Memorial service: 7 p.m. Wednesday at University Baptist Church. Casual attire. No flowers.

Lawrence S. “Larry” Uwaine, 54, of Honolulu, a former Revlon employee, died May 2 in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by companion Carole Yano; brothers Edwin E. and Dennis K.; sisters Amy K. Okamura and Edna T. Jackson. Services: 6 p.m. Thursday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire.

Laura A.H. White, 74, of Honolulu, a retired Public Utilities Commission employee, died Tuesday at home. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son Douglas K.; daughters Stephanie Frye, Valerie W. Chun and Jeanne W. Gunther; brother Leonard F. Ho; and six grandchildren. Private services.