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About a year ago, the city planted a giant crepe myrtle tree to replace a fallen monkeypod at Nuuanu Valley Park and dedicated it to environmental activist Elizabeth "Betty" Crocker. Isle beautifier
Crocker dies at 79By Mary Adamski
Star-BulletinThe purple-blossomed beauty beside Pali Highway is a just a sample of the beautification legacy left by the former Outdoor Circle president and co-founder of Scenic Hawaii Inc.
Crocker died Sunday at the age of 79.
"She had a knack for bringing people together -- business people, the city, the state," said Cynthia Marnie of Scenic Hawaii Inc., a former Outdoor Circle president. "I told her she has the gift of ho'omalimali (flattery)."
Crocker joined Outdoor Circle efforts to save trees and to promote landscaping of public roadways and parks soon after moving to Hawaii in 1969. She served three terms as president of the organization, which is also a watchdog against breaches in Hawaii's strict sign laws.
Since the 1994 organization of Scenic Hawaii, an affiliate of Scenic America, Crocker has been involved in state and city medial planting projects along Sand Island Access Road and Nimitz Highway. Her current environmental crusade was to save Irwin Park, across from Aloha Tower Marketplace, from being developed into a parking structure, Marnie said.
In 1973, she was instrumental in getting government and businesses to start programs to collect and recycle metal, paper and glass on Oahu, Maui and Kauai.
Chris Schneider, Outdoor Circle landscaping project manager, said, "She got her hands dirty. We benefit today from her efforts over the years to beautify our roadways. She was sincere and earnest about seeing that Oahu stayed a tropical paradise.
"She headed the Sand Island Access Road beautification," Schneider said. "It looks a whole world different from what it used to. She was always able to pull together a lot of the players in the community to work hard to beautify Hawaii."
Crocker served on the Governor's Advisory Board for Litter, the Mayor's Beautification Committee and was a member of several community organizations. She was born in Panama and grew up in Fitchburg, Mass.
She is survived by sons Christopher, David and John; daughters Cicely and Diana; sisters Ruth Hesselgren and Ann Jordan; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 8 a.m. Friday at Outrigger Canoe Club. The family asks that casual attire be worn and that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Scenic Hawaii, Betty Crocker Memorial Fund, P.O.Box 10100, Honolulu HI, 96816.
Vivian P.S. "Jo" Carter, 65, of Wailuku, a custodian for Consolidated Theatres on Oahu and Maui, died Thursday in Maui Memorial Medical Center. She was also a housekeeper for the Maui Memorial Hospital, Adrians Laundry and T.L.C. Automotive. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by daughters Dorothy Hernandez, also known as "Dolly" or "Dory," Linda "Honey" Del Rosario and Dolores "Babe" Bello; a son; five sisters; a brother, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at the Salvation Army, 45 West Kamehameha Ave., Kahului, Maui. Call after 10 a.m.
Karen L. Christiansen, 49, of Honolulu, a licensed practical nurse with Kuakini Health System, died Thursday in Aiea. She was born in Rockford, Ill. She is survived by husband Chris; daughters Misty and Maegan; son Cacey; father Charles Allen; sisters Mary Simpson; brother Tom Allen, and two grandchildren. Mass: 3 p.m. Friday at Pearl Harbor Naval Station Chapel. Reception: St. Philomena's Church, Parish Hall. Aloha attire. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to the American Lung Association.
Beatriz K. DeCosta, 75, of Aiea, a retired travel agent, died Saturday in Aiea. She was born on Kauai. She is survived by husband Richard J.; son Richard J. Jr.; daughters Sister Anne Clare DeCosta, Patricia A. DeCosta-Kim and Jennifer M. and Frances G. DeCosta; brother Melkides B. Kilantang, four grandchildren and a great-grandson. Mass: 3 p.m. Saturday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 2 p.m. Private burial.
Malcolm Lee "Butch" Dodson, 53, of Kihei, federal program administrator for Maui County , died Saturday at home. He was born in Selma, Calif. He is survived by wife Pamela Y.; son Kai; daughter Bree Amaya; sisters Linda Hopper, Sherri Dodson and Kim Loque, and stepmother Shirlee. Private scattering of ashes. Memorial donations suggested to Hospice Maui or Muscular Dystrophy Association of Hawaii.
Tang Kam Dung, 77, of Honolulu died Wednesday in St. Francis-West Hospice. She was born in Canton, China. She is survived by son Charles Dun; daughter Lily Shigemoto, and three grandchildren. Taoist services: 10 a.m. to noon Friday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Robert K. "Bobby" Fuller, 59, of Honolulu, a boilermaker with Hawaii Ironworks, died Oct. 8 in Honolulu. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by daughter Beverly Fuller Eastman; mother Elvina K. Hao; brothers Solomon Fuller Jr. and Tony Kassebeer, and sisters Lei Naala M. Ho and Cissy Cambra. Visitation over ashes: 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Oahu Cemetery. Private scattering of ashes.
Pelagia E. Gargar, 61, of Honolulu died Oct. 9 in Kaiser Hospital. She was born in the Philippines. She is survived by husband Benedicto; sons Simplicio, Virgilio, Benendicto Jr., Victorino, Joveniano, Angelito, Rosendo and Rogelio; daughters Veneranda Bacalso, Florencia Navara and Josephine Gargar, grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Monday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 9 a.m. next Tuesday at Our Lady of the Mount Church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Maryann T. Greely, 70, of Lahaina, Maui died Friday at home. She was born in San Francisco. She is survived by husband James W.; sons Joseph and Daniel; daughter Jane McAfee; brother John Trood; sisters Dorothy Harper and Patricia Beirne, and two grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at Maria Lanakila Catholic Church.
Julia L. "Sissy" Hall, 54, of Hilo, a paramedical assistant with Hilo Medical Center and Kokua Nursing, died Friday in Hilo Medical Center. She was born in Hilo. She is survived by sons Channon, Kui, Parish and Neal Padamada; daughter Luana Padamada; brothers Ronald, William, Glenn and Samuel Hudman; sister Faye "Aloha" Hudman, and 15 grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Thursday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at the mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Cremation to follow. Scattering of ashes at a later date. Casual attire.
Richard W. "Dick" Holst, 79, a U.S. Navy veteran, died Sept. 28. He was also owner and president of Honolulu Painting Co. He was born in Alameda, Calif. He is survived by wife Bobbie; children James, Judy, Peter and Terri; three sisters, nine grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Services held. Donations suggested to a charity of choice.
James C. Keller, 66, of Ewa Beach, a retired U.S. Army veteran, died Saturday at home. He was born in Hartford City, Ind. He is survived by wife Dolores; daughters Christy Keller, Katherine Soto and Anita Keller; brothers Bob, Gene, Don, Joe, Phil and Fred, 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the family home, 91-1005 Manaopaa St., Ewa Beach. Casual attire. No flowers.
Flora Dela Sierra Ledward, 74, of Waimanalo died last Tuesday at home. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Dennis Dela Sierra and Jimmy and Roland Ledward Jr.; daughters Yvonne Duarte, Shirley Cuffari, Louise Sausen and Yvette Guerrero; brothers Fausto and Mathias Dela Sierra; sisters Mameliana Raposas and Josephine Leong, 23 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Horace G. "Pony" Marshall, 94, of Honolulu, a retired attorney with the Pearl Harbor Department of Public Works, died Sunday. He was also attorney general with the Trust Territories of the Pacific. He was born in Chicago. He is survived by son John G., six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. No services.
Dorothy F. Miller, 88, of Wailuku, Maui, a retired librarian, died Thursday at home. She was born in Minnesota. She is survived by daughters Janet McKee, Ruth Ferguson and Nancy Richardson; sister Alice Ireland, 19 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Services: 9 a.m. Saturday at Church of Good Shepherd Church, Wailuku.
Daniel D. Miyasato, 62, of Honolulu died Wednesday. He was born in Koloa, Kauai. He is survived by wife Mikie; sons Kyle, Troy and Steve; brothers Robert and Gerald; sisters Nancy Sakutori and Joan Morita, and three grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. Saturday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 4 p.m.
Paul Mizue, 87, of Honolulu, formerly of Los Angeles, a retired certified grocers warehouseman, died last Tuesday. He was born in Los Angeles. He is survived by wife Yaeko; son Hiro Paul; sisters Aiko "Mary" Sugita, Nobuko "Martha" Imamura, Chiye Wakahiro and Michi Takeda, and three grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. Saturday at Harris United Methodist Church. Call after 4 p.m.
Valerie J. Nakamura, 50, of Honolulu, an Okadaya sales associate, died Oct. 8. She was born in Tokyo. She is survived by husband Roy and sister Donna Peake. Private services.
John T. Rosa, 56, of Waianae died Sept. 30 in St. Francis-West Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by mother Florence D. Rosa-Guilfoyle; sons John T. Jr., James K., Thomas G.K., John W.K., Kawika T.K. and Ryan C.K.; daughters Christie K. Rosa and Sidette Kepoo; brothers Julian Jr. and Anthony C.; sisters Penny I. Reed, Rosaline Rosa and Mary Ann Garcia, 24 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Yoshikatsu Sato, 76, of Honolulu is survived by brothers Wallace Tadataka and Tadayoshi Sato. Incorrect information for an obituary published yesterday was provided by the mortuary.
Helen N. Tanaka, 76, of Honolulu, a retired Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel housekeeper, died Sept. 27. She was born in Olaa, Hawaii. She is survived by husband Thomas; son Randall; brother Hideo Sugi, and sisters Mitsuko "Mitzi" Coglianese, Miyoko Unoki and Hiroko "Sharon" Akiyama. Private services. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to American Cancer Society and St. Francis Hospice.
Edith B. Valentine, 74, of Honolulu died Oct. 5. She was born in Waipahu. She is survived by sons Philip and Bernard; daughters Lila Aila, Rita Eng and Geri Maria; hanai daughter Marie K. Ortiz; brothers Frank Beauchan, Philip Beaouchan and Larry Fraticelli; sister Emily Beauchan; hanai sister Felicia Rodrigues, 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Services: 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire.
Robert "Bobby" Wamar, 60, of Hilo, Hawaii, a retired truck driver, died Wednesday in St. Francis Medical Center. He was born in Hilo. He is survived by wife Genny Marie "Hening"; daughters Charmaine Wela and Teresa Spaulding; stepchildren James and Gavien Mata and Darla De Lima; brothers Anthony, Lawrence and Henry; sisters Margaret Thrower and Elizabeth Yangco, and 16 grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. Sunday at New Hope Church in Hilo. Private burial. Casual attire.
Roger C.F. Whitmarsh, 64, of Manhattan, N.Y., a retired assistant personnel director for The Light House Inc., died Sept. 16 in Bronx, N.Y. He is survived by sisters Jean Ling and Barbara Campbell; stepbrother Bruce Ames, and stepsisters Cynnie B. Petersen and Laurie Birnsteel. Memorial services: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Oahu Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.
Wynetta Jean Willis, 62, of Waianae died Oct. 6 in Waianae. She was born in Los Angeles. She is survived by daughters Pauletta Martin and Ruth Anne Winkler; sister Carolyn; brothers Sentell Jr. and Anthony; parents Grace and Sentell, and two grandchildren. No services.
Masateru Yano, 82, of Honolulu, a retired sign painter for Meadow Gold Dairies, died Saturday at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Yoshie; daughters Paula Yano Bruce and Charlotte Yano Chang; brothers Masami and Sueji; sister Hanako Kume, and four grandchildren. Memorial services: 5 p.m. Thursday at Makiki Christian Church. Call after 4 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.