Saturday, July 18, 1998 He was an energetic man of many skills and talents -- bus driver, fireman, disc jockey, radio station manager, ad man, columnist, artist. And he always had a smile and a hand for others. Patt Patterson,
By Susan Kreifels, Star-Bulletin
ad and PR man, dies
at age 75Patt Lopez Patterson died Wednesday at Queen's Hospital. He was 75.
In advertising and public relations, he was president of Patt Patterson and Associates for 17 years and president of Creative Solutions.
"He was a 'nothing is ever going to go wrong in my life' kind of guy," said Jack Seigle of Starr Seigle Communications, who knew Patterson for 30 years. "He always wore a button that said 'Do It' on his lapel or aloha shirt.
"He was a competitor but one of those guys that if you ever needed him, he would be there to help you out."
Patterson came to Hawaii when he was 14. His career included being a firefighter with the Honolulu Fire Department and station manager for KGU Radio. He often took part in the Honolulu Press Club Gridiron Show and wrote a column for the Downtown Planet.
In recent years he displayed his artwork in exhibits, such as one called "The Unpredictable Art of Patt Patterson II," which included photos and collages.
Patterson was born in Hanford, Calif., on March 15, 1923.
He is survived by his wife, Joy; daughters Ilene Marrotte, Chang Margin, ARLETTE! Anela, Arlee and Arlei Patterson; son Jack; sisters Dr. Evelyan Thomas and Marion Spencer; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
His family is holding private services. Scattering of ashes will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friends of the Library or the Public School of Hawaii Foundation, P.O. Box 4148, Honolulu 96812.
When Robert Heiserman Jr. retired as president of Amfac/JMB's agricultural operations last August, he was able to see the company's sugar plantations on Kauai turn a profit for the first time in a decade. Amfac's R. Heiserman
By Craig Gima, Star-Bulletin
lived and loved sugarDuring his five-year tenure, Heiserman helped the company go through tough financial times. He developed a long-range plan to return the company to profitability and is credited with helping to save Amfac's Kekaha and Lihue plantations.
"He was doing everything that he could to save the plantations," said his wife, Betty.
"He loved Kauai and he loved the Hawaiian islands. He'd been in sugar cane 50 years. This was a wonderful way to top off his career -- in paradise," she said.
Heiserman, 73, died July 12 at the Queen's Medical Center of complications from cancer. Services were held today at Valley Forge Park in Pennsylvania, and he was buried near his birthplace in Bryn Mawr.
Heiserman and his partner, Robert Reid, first came to Hawaii as consultants. In 1992, they were asked to run Amfac's agricultural operations, which at that time included the Pioneer Mill on Maui, Oahu Sugar Co. and a coffee plantation.
A few days after they started work, Hurricane Iniki hit. Much of the first 18 months was spent helping the plantations recover.
Heiserman also oversaw the closure of the Oahu Sugar Co. when the leases for its sugar lands were not renewed.
"During his tenure we did a lot of downsizing and re-engineering. He led us through a lot of changes," said Lyle Tabata, vice president of operations for Amfac sugar.
"Nobody wants to lay people off, but you have to have the fortitude to do something like that and he did it because it was the right thing," Tabata said.
Heiserman merged the operations at Kekaha and Lihue, which resulted in the loss of about 200 jobs. There were also layoffs at Pioneer Mill.
Betty Heiserman said the closure of Oahu Sugar was "heart wrenching" for her husband.
"He had a love of the plantation and deep feelings about the people," she said.
Heiserman's door was always open to any employee and workers even came to him with personal problems.
"He had a lot of pride and integrity -- integrity above all. When he said he was going to do something for you, he did it and he had a lot of compassion for his fellow man," Tabata said.
Heiserman's career in sugar began while working part-time at the National Sugar Refining Co. during college. He graduated from Princeton University after serving in the Air Force as a navigator during World War II. He worked with the Holly Sugar Corp. and was president of North American Sugar Industries. He also ran a general management consulting firm in Colorado Springs.
Heiserman kept working despite his age because he felt a need to contribute, Tabata said.
"He saw an opportunity to help us here in Hawaii and his efforts were tireless," Tabata said.
Betty Heiserman said she and her husband would have lunch regularly at the Princeville Resort in Hanalei. "He would look at the Na Pali Coast and he said, 'If there is a heaven, this must be heaven because heaven must look like this.'"
Besides his wife, Heiserman is survived by son Robert III; daughters Sally and Amy Szvetecz; step-daughter Melissa Hosp; a grandson and step-grandson.
Antonio C. Ancheta, 76, of Waipahu, who retired from Navy Public Works Center, died July 8 in Waipahu. Born in Ilocos Sur, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Magdalena C.; son Albert; daughters Betty Reeves, Mildred Harrison and Helen Banaay; brother Moises; sister Paulina Cabudol; 15 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Monday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Monday, July 20, 1998
