Lester E. Cingcade, 68, a dominant figure in the development of Hawaii's Judiciary and Mid-Pacific Institute for more than 40 years, died March 12 at his home in Edmonds, Wash., where he retired in 1996. LESTER E. CINGCADE /
RETIRED MID-PAC PRESIDENTEducator modernized
More obituaries
Hawaii courts
By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com"He was my most significant mentor, professionally," said Iolani School headmaster Val Iwashita, who was Mid-Pac's principal when Cingcade was president there from 1985-1996.
"He was always upbeat, forward-thinking and risk-taking," Iwashita said. "He is someone I admire and love dearly ... It's hard for me to recognize him appropriately for his many contributions to the community and to me, personally."
Cingcade's life reflected his interest in doing new things, professionally and personally, Iwashita said.
He applied that philosophy as the courts' administrative director from 1966 to 1985, said former Chief Justice Bill Richardson, who offered him the position. "The strange part about that was, when I called on him ... , he said, 'I've never been inside the courthouse,'" Richardson said.
He said he told Cingcade the court had a lot of lawyers and he needed someone to handle administration and provide some education for the Judiciary, which was "pretty far behind ... "He said Cingcade renovated deteriorated courthouses and began experimenting with technology to streamline the jury system and court reporting and to notify attorneys when cases were coming up so they wouldn't have to wait around. He also started a process to let people pay fines by credit cards.
"He was good at taking our causes to the Legislature," resulting in more courthouses and judges and higher pay, Richardson said. He also designed some courts, including the Honolulu District Court.
Cingcade joined Mid-Pacific Institute in 1955 after earning a bachelor of science degree from the University of Oregon. He taught American history and was track coach until 1957, when he was appointed Dean of Boys and Assistant to the Headmaster.
He was called to active duty in the Army in 1959, served two years and returned to Mid-Pac in 1961.
After earning a University of Hawaii master's degree in education in 1966, Richardson persuaded him to go to the Judiciary. Only two other states had court administrators then. He began to organize them and was soon heading a nationwide organization of court administrators, Richardson said.
The National Center for State Courts honored Cingcade with a Distinguished Service Award in 1987 for his leadership in modernizing Hawaii's court system and improving court administration nationally. His achievements also were recognized by the American Judges Association.
During his 19 years at the Judiciary, Cingcade remained active with Mid-Pac as a member of its Board of Managers.
He returned to the private school in 1985 as president, but continued to be involved with the National Center for State Courts.
He was president of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools from 1992-94 and "worked tirelessly with the leaders of the private school community to envision a future imbued with what he called our 'moral obligation' to create a 'new educational and social vision' for Hawaii," said HAIS Executive Director Robert Witt.
Survivors include his wife, Judith, daughters Jennifer Lei Cingcade and Mary Lani Cingcade; mother, Hazel Baldasty of Spokane, Wash.; sisters Helen Lehman of Spokane and Carmen Cox of Oakland, Ore.
A memorial service will be held at 5:30 p.m. April 15 at Mid-Pacific Institute. Contributions may be made to the Lester E. Cingcade Scholarship Endowment at Mid-Pacific Institute, 2445 Kaala St., Honolulu 96822.