Obituaries

Wednesday, July 22, 1998

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George Tai Hee Pai, 70,
'always made time
for his family'

By Michelle Cournoyer
Star-Bulletin

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He ran a law practice, served as the state's fifth attorney general, and held the title of district court judge for 18 years.

But the role George Tai Hee Pai found most fulfilling was being a husband and a father.

“No matter how busy he got, he always made time for his family,” said his wife of 35 years, Jung Hi.

Pai died Monday in Honolulu at the age of 70.

“He sacrificed so much for his family,” said his son, Patrick, 32, who lives in Irvine, Calif. “While my sister Beverly was in medical school doing her residency, he would get up at 4 o'clock in the morning to pack a lunch for her.”

Pai began serving as a state deputy attorney general in 1967. For five years prior to that, he was an executive with the Kaiser-Hawaii Kai Development Co.

He was sworn in as attorney general in 1971, and as a district court judge in 1979.

He had established his own law firm with a partner in 1976 and continued private practice while serving as a judge.

But Pai never let pressure at work affect his family life or chip away at his sense of humor.

“He had a good sense of humor and liked cute jokes,” said Jung Hi.

Born and raised in Kaimuki, he graduated from Kaimuki High School, attended the University of Hawaii for two years before graduating from the University of Michigan. He received his law degree from the University of Southern California in 1961.

He retired in Aiea last year.

He also is survived by his wife; daughters Arlene and Beverly; son Patrick; sister Flora Lyum; and brothers John, James, Robert and William. Visitation: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Friday at Hawaii State Veteran's Cemetery. Aloha attire.

Sumiko “Sumi” Akashi, 74, of Honolulu, a retired travel agent for International Travel Service, died Friday at home. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by brothers Jitsuo, Bert, William, Henry and James Nakano; and sisters Tomiko Takeshita and Joyce Nakano. Services: 11 a.m. Sunday at Nuuanu Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to Kuakini Foundation. Casual attire.

Kiku M. Almonte, 92, of Wahiawa died July 14. Born in Kawailoa, Hawaii, she is survived by daughters Rose Yamamoto and Gladys Horita; brother James Hara; sister Margaret Sunahara; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Private services.

Nancy K.A. “Maraea” Behrens, 70, of Corona, Calif., a retired correctional counselor and parole agent for the California Department of Corrections, died Sunday. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sons Jay and Thomas; daughters Toni Timoney and Teri Skeen; brothers William and Hansel Chang and Richard and Raymond Ae‘a; sisters Mable Tom, Irene Kau and Geraldine Clark; and 11 grandchildren. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Tuesday at Kamehameha Schools Chapel. Burial: Pauoa Hook Chu Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memoirs of Behrens life suggested to the Behrens' family, 25921 McCall St., Sun City, Calif. 92586-2312.

Herbert O. Campbell, 33, of Waimanalo, died Saturday in Kailua. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by companion Susie Kaio; sons Kamaka and Kaimi; parents Mary and Steve Apio; brothers Edward and Robert Campbell and Marlon Apio; sisters Iwalani and Leialoha Apio; and grandmother Rose Sandy. Mass: 9:15 a.m. Friday at St. George Catholic Church in Waimanalo. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Vicente C. Casil, 87, of Honolulu, an Army veteran, died July 8 in St. Francis Hospital. He was also a laborer and mason. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by wife Ethel H. Mass: 11 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of the Mount Church. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Honolulu Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Rebecca Cordeiro, 60, of Honolulu died Friday. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by mother Maria Marques, brother Don Marques and sister Marylou De Aguiar. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire.

Sam S. Dikeo, 62, of Haleiwa, a farmer, died July 11 in Wahiawa General Hospital. Born in Laos, he is survived by wife Chanpheng, son Noum, and a granddaughter. Services: 2:30 p.m. Friday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call from 2 to 4 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire.

Ruby F. Hoke, 90, of Honolulu died Saturday. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by brother James A. Mass: 1:30 p.m. Friday at St. Augustine Church. Call after noon. Inurnment: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers. Leis welcome.

Palmalita P. “Kulady” Hoohuli, 53, of Nanakuli died July 14 in St. Francis-West Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband Eddie E.; daughters Ida K. Hoohuli and Ida K. Kaaialii-Hoohuli; godchildren Michelle Gomes and Ronald K. and Edward Maria; broth er Palmer Kua; and sisters Gertrude “Baby Lei” Bite, Katherine Via-Pauole, Margaret P. Mahoe, Emily P. Kua and Mabel-Elena Maria. Wake services: 7 p.m. Friday at Nanakuli Door of Faith Church, 89-142 Haleakala Ave. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Nanakuli Homestead Cemetery. Casual attire.

Lorona B. Huffman, 66, of Waimea, Hawaii, a retired licensed practical nurse, died July 14 in Kona Community Hospital. Born in Cottonport, La., she is survived by son Theodore L. “Ted” Oktabetz Jr.; daughters Phyllis Granger, Susan War and Tammy Torly; sisters Ordean Couvillon and Myrtle Armand; and five grandchildren. Services on the mainland.

Teri-Lynn Y. Komatsu, 38, of Pearl City died July 14 in Pearl City. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by parents Masami and Ellen S., brothers Jon D. and James P. and grandmother Katsumi. Memorial services: 5 p.m. Saturday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Moses M. Lau, 32, of Stockton, Calif., an apprentice ironworker, died July 10 at home. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by daughter Tanya R., parents Joseph and June, sister Angela and grandparents Sing and Annie. Private services.

Jeffrey Lee, 56, of Waianae, a retired coach of the Waianae High School Varsity Girls Softball team, died July 12 in Wahiawa General Hospital. Born in Hilo, he is survived by wife Yvonne “Kwajie” K.N.; son Jeffrey S.Y.; daughter Michele K.N. Pasion; mother Verna; brothers Joe S.S. Lee and Gary and Gregory Brown; sisters Veronica Lee and Dutchess Brown; and a grandchild. Wake services: 7 p.m. Friday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 5:30 p.m. Casual attire.

Yong Min Lee, 77, of Honolulu died Monday in Beverly Manor. Born in Korea, he is survived by daughter Susan S.J. Kim. Services: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Pauline S.M. Zane Munford, 88, of Honolulu died last Wednesday in Tripler Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son Donald Zane, sisters Dorothy Mathews and Nani Edwards, and two grandchildren. Taoist services: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.

Masako Nishimoto, 93, of Pearl City will be remembered in services 6 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Pearl City. Additional information for an obituary published yesterday.

Daniel M. Pogtis, 47, of Waianae died Monday. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by mother Mildred; brothers William Medeiros, Alfred Jr. and Don Pogtis and Floro Villibrille; sister Jo Ann Eguchi; and three grandsons. Services at a later date.

Donald C. Quaintance, 81, of Kamuela, Hawaii, a retired manager for Theo H. Davies Ltd., died Saturday at home. Born in Massachusetts, he is survived by wife Evelyn “Bee”; sons Donald II and Edward; daughter Barbara Bowers; brother Russell Jr.; and nine grandchildren. No services.

Virginia Silva, 85, of Los Angeles and formerly of Honolulu, died July 10. Born in Hawaii, she is survived by daughter Louise Moreno; sister Teresa Santos; 14 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren. Graveside services: 1 p.m. Friday at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire.

Wilfred A. Tsuge, 62, of Hilo, a retired principal appraiser for the City and County of Los Angeles, died Monday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Honokaa, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Mary Jane Krause-Tsuge, daughter Jade A., and father the Rev. Giko. Services: 5 p.m. Friday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 3 to 5 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

Thomas “Tommy” Wong, 57, of Honolulu, a retired city Transportation Services supervisor, died last Wednesday in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Aiea, he is survived by wife Candace; sons Thomas Matsukado, Timothy and Brian Wong, Derek and Christopher Fong and Derek Dabalos; daughters Sharolynn Cardenas, Gloria Scribner, Katherine Furtado, Adrianne Blackstad, Veronica Fong and Tambra Dabalos; brothers Richard, Gary, Raymond, Dennis, Rodney and Clifford Wong and Victor Kelekolio; sister Glenda Kahele and Marilyn Wong; and 22 grandchildren. Memorial services: 5 p.m. Saturday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Orville L. Wright, 77, formerly of Corvallis, Ore., who was retired, died Sunday in Queen's Hospital. Born in The Dalles, Ore., he is survived by son Robert, stepson Orval “Bud” Hadley, stepdaughters Linda Williamson and Loretta Hadley, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services on the mainland.

Ethel A. Yamada, 87, of Honolulu is also survived by sister Ruth Yamaguchi and 10 great-grandchildren. Additional information for an obituary published Monday provided by the mortuary.