Alvin E. Pierce continued to play volleyball, ski and windsurf at age 70. ALVIN E. PIERCE / 1924-2001
Public engineer from
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isles’ territory era dies, 77By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comThat athletic energy reflected his strong work ethic, said his daughter, Deborah Rissman.
Pierce, former chief engineer of the territorial Public Utilities Commission, died on Sept. 25 at Largo Medical Center in Largo, Fla. He was 77 years old.
Pierce, who was of Scottish-Irish and Hawaiian descent, was born on May 16, 1924, in Hono-lulu to James Robert and Mona Campbell Pierce.
Pierce's grandfather was the nephew of sugar pioneer James Campbell.
Pierce, a 1942 graduate of Roosevelt High School, obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering at the University of Wisconsin. He was also a veteran of the Navy Seabees during World War II.
From 1949 to 1960 he worked as an engineer with the state and then territorial Public Utilities Commission. At the age of 32, he was chief engineer of the Commission.
In 1964, Pierce ran as a Democrat for state representative from the 17th District but lost. His concern involved traffic problems in the state.
As a teenager, Pierce helped direct traffic through Kaimuki with Boy Scout troops during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The then-Waialae Iki resident became the owner of the Crouching Lion Restaurant in Kaaawa for several years.
Former head hostess Gloria Toguma said, "He was a good boss."
In 1966, Pierce and his family moved to Southeast Asia where he worked as a civil engineer for Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall, an architecture, engineering and construction services firm.
Pierce later moved to Frankfurt, Germany, with his wife, Ingrid. During the winter months the couple spent their time in Florida.
Pierce is survived by wife Ingrid; daughters Deborah Rissman of Los Angeles, Pat Reilly of Honolulu, B.J. Pierce and Mary Felknor of Minnesota, and Joann Perry of Seattle; brothers James Robert Pierce of Hono-lulu and Kahalewai Pierce; various nieces and nephews; and five grandchildren.
A private service was held. His urn will be buried in Bornheim, Germany.