Obituaries

Tuesday, January 5, 1999

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Ruth McKendrick,
96, opera singer,
teacher to hundreds

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Ruth McKendrick, 96, of Honolulu, a former opera soprano, church soloist and vocal teacher for 41 years, died Wednesday in Straub Hospital.

Born in Picton, Ontario, Canada, her early life included extensive appearances in opera, radio, oratorio and theatrical presentations on the West Coast, where she had lead roles in several operas.

As the soprano lead in Mozart's “Cosi fan Tutte,” she set the tone that enabled that presentation to be named best operatic production at the 1939 San Francisco World's Fair.

A Hawaii resident since the 1940s, she gave a number of concerts at Honolulu Academy of Arts and other Hawaii locations and sang with the Royal Hawaiian Band. She was soloist at St. Clement's Church for six years.

Hundreds of students studied with her through the years. She was president of the Morning Music Club and president of Soroptimist Club of Honolulu. She made extensive European trips for music study in 1960, 1968 and 1970.

“I think per capita Hawaii has more musicians and more people interested in music and the arts than any state on the mainland,” she once said.

A number of her students went on to musical careers.

Her entire training and career was in classical music, but she warmly praised Hawaiian music.

She is survived by husband James; and daughter Lucile Waldron.

Memorial services will take place at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Atherton Chapel, Central Union Church. Casual attire. No flowers. There will be a private scattering of ashes.

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Ronald W. Bergman, 61, of Kihei, Maui, a telecommunications marketing manager, died Friday at home. Born in California, he is survived by wife Charlene, son Raye, daughter Colleen, brothers Robert and Russell, four grandchildren, a great-grandchild, and three hanai grandchildren. Memorial services: 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Hope Chapel in Kihei. Aloha attire.

Harry A. DeMotta, 73, of Las Vegas died Dec. 24 in Las Vegas. He is survived by wife Mildred; sons Harry Jr. and Douglas; daughters Sharon Apao, Linda Samson and Melissa Kalilikani; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. tomorrow at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Elpidio D. Domingcil, 90, of Honolulu died Dec. 24 at home. Born in Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Rosalia, daughter Ann Mendoza, sister Veronica, brother Felomino, and two grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Thursday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at the mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Louie Garcia, 71, of Oceanview, Hawaii, a retired custodian in New Mexico, died last Tuesday at home. He was also a U.S. Army veteran and formerly with Mac 10 and Mac Farms. Born in Albuquerque, N.M., he is survived by wife Judith L. “Judy”; sons Ronnie, John, Kenneth and Aaron Houvener; daughters Olcie and Patsy Garcia, Bonnie S. Brown and Margaret Caro; foster daughter Connie Gallegos; brothers Phillip and Perfecto; sister Rose Baca; 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Naalehu Ward. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire. Flowers welcome.

Leonard R. “Boy” Gleason Jr., 52, of Waipahu, a taxi driver with the Cab, died Dec. 19 in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Yolanda M., daughter Leilani A., father Leonard, brother Douglas, sister Betty Jean Shahabi, a stepbrother, sisters, and a granddaughter. Wake services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Cremation to follow. Aloha attire.

Beatrice H. “Aunty Bea” Horita, 81, of Honolulu, a retired housekeeper for Outrigger Reef Hotel, died Friday in Straub Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by brothers John M. and Tadao Masaki and sisters Ethel T. Sakai and Jean S. Fujino. Services: 4 p.m. Thursday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Sunao Iwamoto, 88, of Lihue died Friday in Wilcox Hospital. Born in Hanamaulu, Kauai, he is survived by son Arthur; daughters Irene Kawabata, Marsha Haugum and Gail Lizama; brother Minoru “Jack;” and six grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. tomorrow at Lihue Hongwanji Mission. Call after 4 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Caroline “Rita” Kahumoku, 65, of Waimanalo, a cashier at McDonald's Restaurant in Waimanalo, died Thursday in Kailua. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by companion Godfrey Kang; sons Van, George and Moses; daughter Sharleen; brother Adam Ornellas; sisters Eleanor Teves and Lida Clark; 16 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Valley of the Temples. Call after 8 a.m. Burial to follow. Aloha attire.

Masao Kato, 76, of Honolulu died Dec. 26 in Kuakini Hospital. Born on Maui, he is survived by wife Mitsue; daughter Janis; mother Satome; brothers Isamu, Tom T. and Roy; and sisters Yoshie Kato and Jane Knopf. Private services.

Muria C. Kong, 90, of Honolulu died Dec. 14 in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Waipio Valley, Hawaii, she is survived by sisters Rosalyn C. Ho and Marguerite Pang, hanai son Douglas Chang and care-giver Mele Salakielu. Private services.

Hanayo Kunimoto, 87, of Honolulu and formerly of Hilo, died Dec. 25 in Convalescent Center of Honolulu. She is survived by son Eugene; daughters Shirley Tsubaki, Doris Sugai, Angeline Kodama and Laraine Watarai; sisters Momoe Kataoka and Betty Taniguchi; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Private services.

Bernard L. Maghinay, 71, of Waimanalo, a retired supervisor for the city Parks and Recreation Department, died Thursday in Castle Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Beatrice; sons Abraham, Samson “Bernard,” Jeffrey “Jacob” and Matthew Maghinay and David R. Patrick; daughters Martha “Brooks” Jean-Felix, Barbara Anthony, Berdine Fuller, Laurie Grace, Sue Holeso and Melanie Maghinay; brothers; sisters; 33 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchil dren. Services: 11:15 a.m. Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Aloha attire.

Joseph J. McAleavey, 60, of Honolulu, an artist, died Dec. 11 in Honolulu. Born in New York, he is survived by brother Gerald and sister Margaret. Services at a later date.

Jack A. Moses IV,infant son of Jack A. Moses III and Brenda D. Iokepa of Pepeekeo, Hawaii, died last Tuesday in Kaiser Hospital. He is also survived by grandparents Jack A. Jr. and Debra Moses and Clayton W. and Heidi Iokepa; and great-grandparents Joe and Albina Lagrimas and Jack A. and Etta Moses. Services: 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Homelani Memorial Park. Call after 1:30 p.m. Casual attire.

Rikio Naito, 80, of Pearl City, a retired painter, died last Tuesday in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Kahului, he is survived by wife Kiyoko; sons Milton R., Dean N. and Loren T.; daughter Sharon R. Kubuota; and nine grandchildren. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Thursday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers.

Masami “Sparky” Niimi, 82, of Mountain View, Hawaii, a retired anthurium farmer, died Sunday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Mountain View, he is survived by wife Yasuko “Mildred”; sons Richard and Robert Niimi and James Thompson; daughters Pearl Worley and Jasmine Bailey; brothers Kazuto, Yasuo and Stanley; sisters Yoshiko Kawasaki, Kimiko Igarashi, Shizu Yanabu and Jennie Mar; and 10 grandchildren. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Thursday at Church of the Holy Cross, 440 W. Lanikaula St. Call after 3 p.m. Urn committal services: 9 a.m. Friday at the Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire. No flowers.

Edmund “Mundo” Pacheco, 83, of Hilo, a retired cowboy for Sea Mountain/Keahou and Shipman Ranches, died Dec. 27 in Hilo Hospital. Born in Haoaualoa, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Agnes, sons Rodney and Eric, daughter Claudette Revilla, brother Melvin, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 12:15 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Call from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Burial: Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire.

Akira “Aki” Tokeshi, 64, of Aiea, a Times Super Market controller, died last Tuesday in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in South Hilo, he is survived by wife Claire F., sons Michael A. and Reid M., daughters Carrie R. Tachino and Joy M. Tokeshi, brother Seikichi, sister Otome Hayashi and two grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Thursday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Florence P. Wong, 78, of Honolulu, a retired Kaiser Hospital optical technician, died Dec. 16 in St. Francis Hospice. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son Charles O., daughter Victoria, brother, three sisters, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Private services.

Yuk Moon “Moonie” Wong, 81, of Honolulu, a retired agent for the Internal Revenue Service, died Dec. 4 in Queen's Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Marion; daughters Janice Nakata and Karen Lawrence; brothers William, Larry and Richard; sister Pauline Hew; and four grandchildren. Private services.

George McMeekin “Keoki” Young, 37, of Honolulu, owner and founder of ProCourt Tennis Court Maintenance Co., died Thursday. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by mother Tsulan Farden, stepfather Llewellyn “Buddy” Farden and sister Brooke Nasby. Services: 3 p.m. Thursday at Central Union Church, Atherton Chapel. Reception to follow. Family graveside inurnment: 10 a.m. Friday at Oahu Cemetery. Aloha attire. No flowers.