Marian Walsh, 76, leader
By Harold Morse
in child education
Star-BulletinMarian Walsh, 76, founder and former director of Waiokeola Pre-School at Waiokeola Congregational Church in Kahala, died Sept. 2.
She founded the preschool at 4705 Kilauea Ave. in 1961, starting with 60 children and a staff of five, following many years of teaching at Holy Nativity School.
Visiting Japanese educators later introduced the Waiokeola philosophy to Japan, opening a Waiokeola English School in Osaka in 1983 and another in Kobe in 1984, with a Walsh picture in each school.
In an interview, she summed up the Waiokeola philosophy as a means to help children create a high-quality self-concept.
"A child should be made to feel good about himself," she said. "Each child is an individual and should be allowed to grow at his own rate, never to be compared with brothers, sisters or peers. If a child feels good about himself and worthwhile, and experiences are provided that meet his growth needs, that child should feel secure, confident and peaceful within."
Upon her 1988 retirement, she had seen more than 3,000 students pass through the school. The city observed a special Marian Walsh Day at her retirement, and the church named a building for her. Later, she was honored by both houses of the state Legislature.
She did volunteer work with Friends of Aina Haina Library and served as president of the Niu Valley Association and Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children
In later years she did volunteer work with Meals on Wheels, Bishop Museum, Hawaii Children's Museum, Hawaii Nature Center and also read to kindergarten classes at Aina Haina School.
Additionally, she and her late husband, George, were active in square-dance activities.
Born in Mitchell, Neb., in 1943, she married Joseph Geer Jr., who later died in World War II. The young widow eventually moved with their daughter to Hawaii. She married George Walsh in 1948. The family won a "Family of the Year" honor in 1955.
She is survived by sons Michael, Charles and Richard; daughters Patricia Kupchak and Deborah Walsh; and nine grandchildren.
Services will be at 4 p.m. Sept. 25 at Waiokeola Congregational Church.
The family requests no flowers and casual attire. Friends wishing to honor her memory may contribute to the Alzheimer's Association-Aloha Chapter or to Waiokeola Pre-School.
Ramona McGuire, 83, was
Star-Bulletin staff
‘First Lady of Hawaii Golf’Ramona P. McGuire, 83, of Honolulu, who was inducted into the Hawaii Golfer's Hall of Fame in 1992 and was once dubbed the First Lady of Hawaiian Golf, died Monday.
McGuire won the Hawaiian Women's Amateur title five times from 1940 to 1957, the Jennie K. Wilson Invitational twice, and the Waialae Ladies Invitational twice.
McGuire was one of the most dominant women players in the 1950s. She was a daughter of the former Honolulu Mayor Lester Petrie.
She also helped establish the women's program at Waialae Country Club in 1946.
He was also former secretary at the Willows Restaurant.
She is survived by daughter Wendy McGuire Uyehara and a grandson. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Oahu Cemetery. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Rhody Mangaser Abrahano, 78, of Kaunakakai, a registered nurse, died Aug. 31. She was born in the Philippines. She is survived by son Antonio; brother Benjamin Mangaser; daughters Rhody Ann Umali, Estrellita Leonhardt and Antonette Torres; and eight grandchildren. Call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hoolehua Congregational Church. Services: 10:30-11:30 a.m. next Saturday at St. Sophia Catholic Church in Kaunakakai. Burial: Kapaakea Cemetery.
Ronald Akaka, also known as "Ronnie" or "Pulu," 60, of Mililani, is also survived by the Akakas, Kuzers, Smaldones, Kealiis, Mckerchers and Zen families. Additional information for an obituary published Wednesday provided by the mortuary.
Manuel Bartolome, 101, of Waipahu, died Tuesday in Convalescent Center of Honolulu. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by son Manuel Jr., daughter Vicky Marrero, nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. Services: noon Friday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Soledad R. Canete, 90, of Honolulu, a public schoolteacher, died Thursday in Honolulu. She was born in the Philippines. She is survived by son Danilo, two grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. Graveside services held. Memorial Mass: 8:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. Francis Hospital.
Vincente Carias, 94, of Honolulu died yesterday in Leahi Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by sons Dwight and Vincent Jr., daughters Colleen Carias and Elaine Reyes, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Private services.
Carl S. Funasaki, 91, of Honolulu, was a retired manager of the Kalihi Shopping Basket. An obituary published yesterday was incorrect.
Susan E. Hulick, 82, of Honolulu died Aug. 31 at home. She was born in Texas. She is survived by sons William and Ray, and two grandchildren. Private services. Donations suggested to Hawaii Heart Association, Hospice Hawaii or Hawaiian Humane Society.
Taichi Imada, 76, of Waipahu, a retired mechanic from Oahu Sugar, died Sunday in St. Francis-West Hospital. He was also a veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Born in Ewa, he is survived by wife Tatsue K.; sons Dennis M., Carl T. and Brian M.; brother Shoso Yasui; sisters Dorothy M. Goto, Judy H. Vincent and Akiko Wakatsuki, and seven grandchildren. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Tuesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers.
Doris F. Iwamoto, 86, of Honolulu, a retired registered nurse at Leahi Hospital, died Tuesday at home. She was born in Los Altos, Calif. She is survived by son Elton; daughters Geraldine and Patricia Iwamoto and Analee Long; brother Carl Takano; and sisters Miyaki Takano, Rose Hijikata and Anne Sakamoto. Memorial services: noon Tuesday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Inurnment: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Casual attire. No flowers.
Un Ok Lee, 73, of Honolulu, a retired mechanic for McKinley Motors, died last Saturday in Straub Hospital. He was born in Su San, Korea. He is survived by wife Sam Kwon, daughters Janet L. Pirga and Janice Yang, son Jerry, sister Howie Tenn, and two grandsons. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 9:30 a.m. Casual attire.
Peter K. Makalii, 66, of Kailua-Kona, a retired welder and diver for the federal government, died Sept. 3 in Kona Hospital. He was born in Hawaii. He is survived by wife Margaret; sons Peter Jr. and Lester; daughters Debra Cooper and Cindy Mae P.; hanai daughter Jessica Crawford; brothers Sonny and Edmond Kaawaloa; sisters Dorothy McCumber, Mildred Holau, Thelma Anders, Marie Nakaichi and Minnie Kaawaloa; 13 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Inurnment: 9 a.m. Thursday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.
Raymond J. "Baba" Mirikitani, 84, of Honolulu, a retired bus operator for Honolulu Transit Lines, died Sept. 2 in Straub Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Mabel M. Yasue, and sisters Grace T. Shiramizu, Clara M. Shibuya and Betty M. Nose. Private services.
Angeline Souza Nascimento, 82, of Kailua, died Tuesday in Hale Ho Aloha Nursing Home. She was born in Waimea, Kauai. She is survived by husband John "Jack," son Albert "Roy," daughter Marlene Santiago, brother Joseph Souza, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Private services.
Betty M.W. Johnson Omizo, 65, of Kailua is also survived by daughter Trisha. Additional information for an obituary published yesterday provided by the mortuary.
Jack S. Ragaza, 54, of Aiea, a painter for Kaiser Foundation Hospital, died Sept. 6 in Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. He also served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Fe Alicia; mother Elizabeth, and brothers Victor, Charles and George. Rosary: 6:15 p.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Church. Call 5:30-9 p.m. Mass: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire.
Clifford P. Victorino, 52, of Waianae, a retired merchant seaman for Matson Navigation Co., died Aug. 26 in Waianae. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by son Anthony; father Lawrence; brothers Lawrence Jr., Robert and Richard, and sisters Joann Medina and Judy Austin. Services held.
Rosemary Vinhaca, 70, of Honolulu, died Monday in Ewa Beach. She was born in Kahuku. She is survived by sons John J. Jr., Bert W. and Arthur T.; daughters Jennie Goodson, Catherine R.M. Joseph, Christine Vinhaca and Caroline Kelekoma; brother Joseph Arboleda; sister Cathy Kawelo, 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Inurnment to follow.
Robert G. Walden, 75, of Honolulu, a retired business owner, died Wednesday in Honolulu. He was born in Wisconsin. He is survived by wife Lorraine; daughter Loree; sons Robert and Loren; sisters Nancy Cassity and Ethel Hill; and brother Lester Walden. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Monday at Waiokeola Congregational Church. Private scattering of ashes. Casual attire.
Betty Jean Whaley, 71, of Honolulu, a retired sales counselor for Manchester Sterling, died Tuesday. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by daughter Kathy Campos, sons Michael and Ronald Lundy, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Inurnment: 11 a.m. Monday at Oahu Cemetery.
Alma K. Yogi, 80, of Honolulu, a retired stock clerk for the U.S. Navy Exchange, died yesterday in Kuakini Geriatric Care Inc. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Richard and Ronald; daughters Shirley Paul and Yvonne Rojas; brothers George, Raymond, Roy and Ronald Chinen; sisters Florence Chun, Patsy Asato, Peggy Fukumoto, Betty Lam, Shirley Tomei and Joyce Tomita; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Wednesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Shigeko Yoshii, 96, of Kapaa, Kauai, died Aug. 28 in Mahelona Hospital. She was born in Yamaguchi Ken, Japan. She is survived by sons Kiyoshi, Frank T. and Wallace S., daughter Yasuko Kimura, brother Teigi Sadaike, sister Yaeko Fukuda, 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Private services.
You can also search the Hawaii State Library System's
Hawaii Newspaper Index online for older obituaries at:
http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/education/hcc/library/hiindex.html
The index, which goes back several decades,
is available via Telnet software.
