An ailing Hilo man whose wife persuaded lawmakers to change a law so they could live in the same care home has died.

Sidney Kazumi Kaide, husband of Terry Kaide, died Nov. 22 at Hilo Medical Center from complications relating to bladder cancer. He was 89.

He and his wife, 87, lived together for the last seven months. The couple celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in October.

“;I know he was happy to be with me every day, together,”; his wife said yesterday. “;I'm thankful that we were together in his last days.”;

Sidney Kaide, a retired general contractor and real estate developer, was living in a Kaumana care home since 2003 after being diagnosed with cancer. He was unable to talk and was bedridden.

Terry Kaide is paralyzed from the waist down following complications from multiple back surgeries. She lived in a community care foster family home almost 10 miles away from her husband because the state allowed only one private-pay client and two Medicaid clients to live in the same care home. Both the Kaides were private-pay clients.

Terry Kaide's determination and heartfelt testimony prompted lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 190, which allows two private-pay clients to live in the same community care foster home under a two-year demonstration project overseen by the state Department of Human Services. Gov. Lingle signed the bill April 22, and it took effect immediately.

The couple had been living apart for two years when Terry Kaide moved into the Kaumana care home in May.

Her persistence was such a huge testament to her faith and to her love for her husband, said their daughter Gale Sakaguchi. She recalled how her father would tell her, “;If you can be half as good as your mom, you're doing pretty good.”;

“;I've never forgotten that,”; she said.

Family members described Sidney Kaide as a man of perseverance with a great sense of humor, who enjoyed traveling to Japan and loved to sing. He was a sweet, gentle father, said daughter Charlotte Kaide.

Kaide is also survived by daughter Annette Clay, sisters Yukie Minatoya and Tsuyako “;Sue”; Hokama, and three grandchildren. Private services were held.