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Throughout her life, Rose Y. Lee loved children. ‘Great humanitarian’
Rose Y. Lee dies at 70By Leila Fujimori
Star-BulletinThat prompted her to engage in a number of worthwhile endeavors.
Her legacy will be the Variety Club School of Hawaii for children with learning disabilities, which she founded in 1961 as the Honolulu Day School.
"She's probably one of the great humanitarians of our state," said entertainer Carole Kai.
Cincinnati-born Lee died Monday at the age of 70.
Kai called Lee practical and capable, which explains why she was able to accomplish so much. In 1974, Lee helped Kai put on the first bed race to benefit the Variety Club.
"She helped me with the bed race for 20 years," Kai said. "I was only going to do it a couple of years, but it was because of her I stayed. I ended up staying for 20 years."
"She was a no-nonsense kind of person -- not gushy or mushy. ... She got things done."
Lee extended her love to the children she served through the Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry, which she established in 1990, and where she was donor program coordinator until 1998, when she retired.
"She was instrumental in making the registry work for the state of Hawaii," said Roy Yonashiro, donor recruitment coordinator at the registry at St. Francis Medical Center.
Yonashiro said Lee was "a dedicated woman and everyone liked her. She was good person to know.
"A lot of the people we were trying to find donors for were children. She kept us inspired. She was a great human being."
Lee first came to Hawaii in 1955 when she was an occupational therapist.
As a real estate agent, she made the millionaire's club in 1979 when she sold $1 million worth of real estate in less than a year.
And after retiring, Lee fulfilled a dream. She and daughter Lisa Zakar set up the Lisa Rose Dollhouse and Tea Room at Nuuanu Avenue and Vineyard Boulevard, where girls can hold dress-up tea parties.
Lee is survived by husband Walter T.K.; son Steven W.; daughters Lisa Zakar and Lilia Tashiro; brothers Carey, Jack and Gene Yee; sisters Virginia Tsoi, Shirley McKenzie, Anna Wong, Mabel Grebe, Grace Dickerson and Beatrice Grebus; and grandchildren.
Lee's son Steven said services for his mother will be held as a celebration of life Saturday. Her hula halau will perform a dance called "The Rose." Visitation 5 to 9 p.m. at Borthwick Mortuary; services 7 p.m. with cremation to follow.
Inurnment will be held at Borthwick Mortuary 10 a.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery. Aloha attire is recommended.
Stephen J. Alencastre, 84, of Honolulu, a retired supervising switchman with GTE Hawaiian Tel, died Thursday in Queen's Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Laura, daughters Marilyn Coffman and Barbara Yoneda, sister Angela and two grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Monday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Seiki Azama, 95, of Mililani will be remembered in memorial services 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers. incorrect information for an obituary published yesterday.
Howard T. Chai, 76, of Mountain View, Hawaii, a retired engineer for the U.S. Navy Fire Department, died Friday in Hilo Medical Center. He was born in Keauhou, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Rose-Vivian Kolomai I Ka Wau Nahele Chai-View; sons Howard Jr., Patrick and Robin N.; daughters Carleen K.K. Espinoza and Robertha D.I. Lane; sisters Bertha Randolph, Edna Christensen and Mildred Davis; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Rosary: 7 p.m. tomorrow at St. Theresa in Mountain View. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Prayers: 7:30 p.m. Mass: 9 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual or aloha attire.
Josephine K. Cummings, 77, of Pearl City died Sept. 2 in Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi. She was born in Wahiawa. She is survived by sons Horace Lewis, Charles and Charleston Umi and Richard and Roland Cummings; daughters Sandra Santimer, Jan Lewis, Jade DePonte and Crissy Hanohano; brother Arthur Pakele; sisters Elizabeth Pakele and Lurline Omura; 24 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Services: Noon Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Melecio N. Domingcil, 67, of Kaumakani, Kauai, a surveyor for the sugar industry, died Monday. He also served in the U.S. Army. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Marlene E.; sons Melicio N. Jr., Myles B. and Mark A.; sisters Marilyn Medeiros, Louisa Domingcil, Logring Montgomery and Emilia Galicinao; brother Rolando; and 11 grandchildren. Mass: 3 p.m. Friday at Eleele Sacred Hearts Catholic Church. Call after 1 p.m. Burial: Kauai Veterans Cemetery. Casual or aloha attire.
Calixto P. Etrata, 91, of Ewa Beach died Aug. 26 in St. Francis-West Medical Center. He was born in Pangasinan, the Philippines. He is survived by son Jerry; daughters Anna LisaBaniaga and Grace and Janet Etrata; sister Kalina Rimas; and seven grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Alice Gouveia, 84, of Kaneohe, who retired from University of Hawaii Food Service, died Saturday in Aloha Nursing and Rehab Centre. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by daughters Dorinne Kahaulelio, Jacqueline Carlos and Gwendolyn Livingston, 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Aloha attire.
Rudolph P. Hecky, 81, of Sun City West, Ariz., an aircraft maintenance man, died July 27. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was born in Newark, N.J. He is survived by wife Polly; daughters Arleen Watson and Leslie Rosa; sons Gary, Jeffrey and Todd; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Graveside services: 3 p.m. Sept. 21 at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.
Waverly J. Hill Jr., 75, of Kaneohe, who retired from the U.S. Air Force, died Thursday in Tripler Army Medical Center. He also retired from Hawaii Flour Mill. He was born in Mobile, Ala. He is survived by wife Ok Cha; sons Waverly III, Willie, Charlie, Calvin, David and James; daughters Betty Hill Underwood, Velma Long, Julia Palmer, Carlesia Smith and Annette Young; 30 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Services: 1 p.m. Friday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary Call after noon. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire.
Patricia A. Hummel, 52, of Haiku, Maui, a retired teacher for Doris Todd School, died Friday in Maui Memorial Medical Center. She was born in Derry, Pa. She is survived by aunts Mary Mandry and Dorothy Stenchever and caregiver Leta Carpenter. Call after 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Paipala Church in Paia. No flowers. Memorial donations suggested to Doris Todd School.
Jalen K.I. Jose-Tadeo, infant son of Leandro Jose Jr. and Justina Tadeo, died last Wednesday in Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. He is also survived by grandparents Apostol and Helen Tadeo, Leandro Jose and Norma Barroga and great-grandparents Santiago and Rosalia Tadeo, Doris Ancheta and Agaton and Louisa Barroga. Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.
Jonah K. "Pepe" Kamelamela, 79, of Honolulu, who retired from Hawaiian Bitumuls, died Aug. 27 at home. He was born in Kamaili, Hawaii. He is survived by sons Jonah K. "Chubby" Jr., Samuel C., Patrick K., William K. and Joseph K.; daughter Josephine K. Kamelamela-Lono; brothers Samuel and Joseph; sister Hannah Hanohano; 21 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Mass: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Rita Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Nanakuli Homestead Cemetery. Aloha attire.
Katsuto Kurosaki, 87, of Honolulu, a retired carpenter for Harvis Construction, died Sept. 5 in Kuakini Medical Center. He was born in Ookala, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Eleanor T., sons Neal M. and Ryan Y., brother Jack, sister Ethel M. and four grandchildren. Private services.
Gilbert B. Mattos, 49, of Waimanalo, a former house painter, died last Wednesday in Aiea. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Cookie Duvauchelle; son Imaikalani; daughters Laurie Mattos and Punahele and Lolalei Duvauchelle; mother Alice; brothers Kenneth Kekauoha and Gordon, Glenn and Manuel Mattos; and four grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Private scattering of ashes. Casual attire.
Joseph C. Perreira Jr., 69, of Hilo, a retired professional jockey and horse trainer, died Friday in Hilo Medical Center. He was born in Puunene, Maui. He is survived by daughter Karen Marrotte, brother Ernest "Balogna," sisters Mary Beckley and Emily Schafer, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 1 p.m. Friday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 11:30 a.m. Scattering of ashes at a later date. Casual attire. No flowers.
Edda B. Pusins, 77, of Waianae died last Wednesday in St. Francis-West Hospice. She was born in Manila. She is survived by sons Raymond George B. and Henry Cy Al B., brother Enrique Bautista, sister Teresita Jimenez, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorial services: Noon Friday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 11 a.m. Inurnment: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Kenneth W. Scott, 58, of Tenino, Wash., a control and electric technician for Pacific Power & Light Co. in Washington, died Saturday in Honolulu. He was born in Mount Vernon, Wash. He is survived by wife Vickie Jo, sons Loren and Ryan, brothers Randy and Kevan and sister LeEtta Hansmann. Private services. Donations suggested to Rock Mountain Elk Foundation, P.O. Box 8249, Missoula, MT 59807-8249.
Gloria K. Smail, 62, of California and formerly of Honolulu, died Monday in Scripts Memorial Hospital in California. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Elwood, Edward and Gene; daughters Pamela Hipperson, Dina Wesley and Josie Smail; sisters Joyce Kong, Grace Kupukaa and Hopie Briainerd; and nine grandchildren. Graveside services: 9 a.m. Friday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire.
Ellison Q.D.L. "Eli" Sweezey, 31, of Hilo, a student and tutor for students with disabilities at Hawaii Community College, will be remembered in a visitation 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hilo Salvation Army on Ponahawai Street. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. She died in Hilo Medical Center after a car accident Thursday. She was born in Hilo. She is survived by companion Donald Alfiler; mother Eleanor Quiocho; father Paul "Taka"; sons Kenneth Jr. and Skyler Salvado; daughters Priscilla Wassman and Loreal and Megan-Christiny Salvado; brother Francisco Quiocho Jr.; sisters Pauline Estioko, Misty, Dawn and Sommer Quiocho, Bella Sweezey and Tessie Brown; and grandparents Margaret Parong and Greg and Ernesta Santos.
Shintaro Toyama, 89, of Mountain View, Hawaii, a retired utility man for the former Puna Sugar Co., died Monday in Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. He was born in Mountain View. He is survived by wife Tsuruko; sons Ronald, Francis, Glenn and Ivan; daughters Charlotte Ng and Eleanor Arakaki; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services: 5 p.m. Friday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 4 p.m. Casual attire.
C. Bruce Welker, 85, of Kailua-Kona, a retired general agent with Union Pacific Railroad, died Saturday in Kona Community Hospital. He was born in Detroit. He is survived by wife Peggy, two sons, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. No services.
William West, 74, of Honolulu, a retired firefighter for the federal government, died Sept. 2 in Honolulu. He was also a retired war veteran and recipient of a Bronze Star in the Korean War. He was born in New York City. He is survived by brothers Hiry B., Calvin E. and Paul S. and sisters Cora Jefferson and Maude Morrison. Services: 1 p.m. Friday at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Donations suggested to Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Frank K. Williams Jr., 35, of Waikapu, Maui, a self-employed carpenter, died Friday in Maui Memorial Medical Center. He was born in Wailuku. He is survived by mother Pearl Haili; father Stanley Koko; adopted parents Laura and Frank K.; sons Frankie K. and Ikaika M.H.; daughters Erica L., Aileen P. and Edie M.; brothers Bernard, Steven and Cyrus Koko and Jerry K. Williams; and sisters Robin Vierra and Gretel and Charmaine Koko. Services: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ballard Family Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at the mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire.
Mosei Yahiku, 86, of Honolulu died Friday. He was born in Papaloa, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Chiyo, sons Ronald and Les, daughters Jean Tsuda and Ruth Chun, brother Motoku and 11 grandchildren. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Sunday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Thomas K. Yoda, 57, of Honolulu, a personal banking officer for First Hawaiian Bank, died Thursday at home. He was born in Wailuku. He is survived by daughters Stephanie E.Y. Cunkelman, Wendy L. Hammer and Aubrey V. Yoda; mother Hatsuko; brothers M. Dick and Kiyoshi; sisters Mildred Ariyoshi, Ruth Nagaoka and Frances and Annette Yoda; and a grandson. Services: 6:30 p.m. Friday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 5:30 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
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.