Obituaries

Friday, August 21, 1998

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George Kerr,
attorney, cancer activist,
dies at 64

By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

Honolulu attorney George Kerr turned his cancer into a cause that he still served just days before his death.

Kerr, 64, a founding partner with Chun Kerr Dodd Beaman and Wong, died yesterday in St. Francis Hospice.

After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 1994, he got involved in efforts to help men with the disease.

The American Cancer Society last year honored him with a Patient Service Award for his effort. He was regional director of US TOO! International, a prostate cancer support group network. He led two Oahu support groups and started groups on Maui and Kauai.

Eleven days before his death, he was interviewed about his battle with prostate cancer by a Public Broadcasting System crew.

The hourlong program featuring men with the disease will be broadcast next June.

"George told me he thought God gave him prostate cancer so he could help other men," said Elspeth Kerr, his wife of 38 years.

Kerr was born in Englewood, N.J. He graduated from Hamilton College in New York and received his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law.

He arrived in Hawaii in 1959 as a Navy lawyer.

He specialized in corporate and securities law and had taught at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law.

Kerr was a trustee of Central Union Church and formerly was on the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ board of directors. He was former finance chairman of the Republican Party of Hawaii, a trustee of Le Jardin Academy for 24 years and board chairman for 12 years.

His survivors include his wife; son Keoki, a KITV news reporter; daughter Sissy; brother John; and sister Janet Rosenberger.

Details are pending on a memorial service to be held at Central Union Church. Burial will be in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Le Jardin Academy or Central Union Church.

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J. Brian Becker, 47, of Irvine, Calif., a representative for Pre-Paid Legal Services, died Sunday in Santa Ana, Calif. He was also an employee at Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Co. and served in the U.S. Air Force. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Maja, sons Brandon and Kyle, daughter Colleen, mother Marjorie, brother Bruce and a grandson. Graveside services: 11 a.m. Monday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. Aloha attire.

Saturnina B. Dosono, 79, of Hanamaulu, Kauai, a seamstress, died Monday in Queen's Hospital. Born in Pangasinan, the Philippines, she is survived by husband Pascual, daughters Julita Rame and Edna Mo, son Ferdinand, sister Eugenia Ordinario, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Borthwick/Kauai Mortuary. Mass: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Church. Call from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Burial: Kauai Memorial Gardens. Casual attire.

Pauline E. Ford, 78, of Honolulu, a retired seamstress with Tia Sportswear, died Tuesday in Hale Nani Health Center. Born in Kansas City, Mo., she is survived by son Ervin Dixon, daughters Margaret Dixon and Joan Ford, sisters Evelyn Wallace and Rubie Evans, nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Kame Fukuhara, 98, of Aiea, a retired Waimano Home foster grandparent, died Aug. 11 in Hale Nani Rehabilitation Center. Born on Okinawa, she is survived by sons Ronald C., Francis C., Charles A., Frederick C. and George A.; daughter Betty C. Ishii; sister Toyoko Arakaki; 30 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Private services.

Agnes Yukiye Fukuda Ida, 63, of Kaneohe will be remembered in Buddhist services 6 p.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Additional information for an obituary published yesterday provided by the family.

Charles T. Inomoto, 63, of Honolulu, a retired electronics technician at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, died Aug. 7 in Queen's Hospital. Born in Kaunakakai, he is survived by brothers Robert K. and Herman S., and sisters Edith Y. Sakamoto and Rose Kohatsu. Private services.

Laura G. Irons, 83, of Fairfax, Va., formerly of Kalihi Valley, a gift shop owner, died Aug. 9 in Arlington, Va. Born in Hawaii, she is survived by husband Lambert daughters Gay Irons Sports and Linda Irons McCook, and five grandchildren. Services held.

Maria J. Jandoc, 78, of Honolulu died Aug. 6 in Honolulu. Born in Ilocos Sur, the Philippines, she is survived by husband Alejandro P.; sons Silvestre, Alejandro Jr. and Mario; daughter Margarita Sanchez; sister Gaspara Flora; 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Wake services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Mass: 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist Church, 2324 Omilo Lane. Call after 8:15 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Carlos P. Mendoza, 87, of Hilo, a retired laborer for Mauna Kea Sugar, died Wednesday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Gleceria, sons Roy and Wayne, daughters Gloria Mendoza-Paiva and Frances Paiva, hanai daughter Lisa Valido, brothers, sisters, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Prayer services: 10 a.m. Monday at the mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.

Nobuyoshi “Dick” Omori, 75, of Pepeekeo, Hawaii, a proprietor for the former Commercial Equipment & Supply, died Wednesday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Onomea, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Takaye, son Bruce, daughters Clair Suzuki and Sheri Koops, mother Tsuya, brother Tsutomu, sisters Sanae Nekonishi and Sachiko Matsuzaki, and seven grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. Monday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 4 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Jerry R. Rekart, 50, of Honolulu, resident manager of Hale Kulanui condominium, died Thursday in Queen's Hospital. Born in Norwalk, Ohio, he is survived by mother Phyllis Carder, brothers Theodore and James, and sister Suzanne Terry. Private services.

Marita A. Rivera, 32, of Kapolei, who worked in the U.S. Navy's Human Resource Office, died Aug. 11. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband Benny, daughters Brittany and Courtney, mother Myrna Acosta, sisters Marie Siu and Maryann and Melanie Acosta, and brother Paul Acosta. Prayer services: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor, 1050 Valkenburgh St. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Call again from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Takeo Sakata, 83, of Waialua, who retired from Waialua Sugar, died Tuesday at home. Born in Waialua, he is survived by wife Yoshiko; son Jerry M.; daughters Ruby S. Wilkinson, Angeline M. Hino and Constance E. Sakata; brothers Yoshio and Mitsuo; sisters Kimiko Sekii, Toshiko Yaginuma and Kiyoko Sato; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 5 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers.

James D. “Jimmy” Shaffer, 46, of Mililani, an employee of Hobo Records, died Aug. 11. Born in Benton Harbor, Mich., he is survived by wife Sabrina Vines, daughter Crystal Vines, sons Andre Vines and Jonathan and Victor Shaffer, parents Bill and Beverly Payne, brother Don Shaffer, and sisters Zoe and Chris. Private services.

Thanh Thien Tran, 82, of Honolulu died Monday. Born in China, he is survived by wife Phu Ly; sons Charles, Jason, Calvin and Michael Chen; daughters Kim Dinh Yeh, Kim Ngoe Cheng and Kim An Tseng; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Call from 9 to 11:15 a.m. Monday at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Valley of the Temples. No flowers.

Lucy Ten Von, 95, of Honolulu, a retired state foster grandparent, died Aug. 11 in Honolulu. Born in Kohala, Hawaii, she is survived by sons Daniel, Arthur and Luther; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Buri al: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.