• James Buckley Pignona Jr. • Robert Joseph Reny Jr. • Tokumatsu Gushiken James Buckley Pignona Jr. James Buckley “JB” “Jim” Pignona Jr., a resident of Koloa and of Georgia Shore, Vt., passed away after a long illness early Saturday,
• James Buckley Pignona Jr.
• Robert Joseph Reny Jr.
• Tokumatsu Gushiken
James Buckley Pignona Jr.
James Buckley “JB” “Jim” Pignona Jr., a resident of Koloa and of Georgia Shore, Vt., passed away after a long illness early Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
Jim was born April 9, 1943, the son of the late James B. Pignona Sr. and Marjorie (Bell) Pignona.
He attended St. Albans Schools and graduated from Bellows Free Academy in 1960 and Duke University in 1964. From 1966 to 1972, Jim was a member of Vermont Air National Guard, 134 Fighter Squadron and flew F-102 Fighter Interceptors. After his service in the Guard, Jim was involved in several successful business ventures.
In 1999, he retired and moved to the island of Kaua‘i, returning each summer to his camp at “The Pines” on Georgia Shore where he enjoyed the company of old friends. He was a member of Green Mountain Post #1, American Legion.
For the last several years Jim struggled with illness. He downplayed his hardships and faced his challenges stoically with little complaint. Over the years he maintained his interest in Ford Mustangs, owning several high performance models, which he highly prized. Jim loved dogs and was especially fond of his English Setters, “RIP” and “Brandy.”
Survivors include his brother Jeffrey B. Pignona of Fairfield, Vt.; his former wife and close friend Christine Pignona of Essex Junction, Vt.; his niece Heather Bessette and her husband Brian and their sons Ryan and Brendan; his nephew Jeffrey R. Pignona and his wife Aviva and their children Jeffrey, Sawyer and Anna. Jim is also survived by his aunts Eunice Gates and Carol Locke of Jeffersonville, Vt.; his uncle Ernest Pignona and family of Otto, N.C.; several cousins including Judy Teague and Gerald Gates both of Jeffersonville, Vt.; and a godchild McKenzie Goodwin of Milton, Vt.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Heald Funeral Chapel, 87 South Main St, St. Albans, Vt., with the Reverend Judith Steger Kennedy, pastor of the First Congregational Church, officiating.
Jim’s family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. Internment will be this spring at the Pignona family lot in the St. Albans Bay Cemetery.
Contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to the Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, VT 05495; the Hospice of Champlain Valley, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446; or the Franklin County Humane Society, 30 Sunset Meadows, St. Albans, VT 05478.
Messages of condolence to Jim’s family are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com
Robert Joseph Reny Jr.
Robert “Bob” Joseph Reny Jr. of Pahoa and formerly of Koloa died on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008, at Hilo Medical Center.
Born in Honolulu on Oct. 23, 1941, he was a retired U.S. Civil Service worker for the U.S. Navy and owner of Bob’s Electronics Repair.
He is survived by wife Barbara Reny of Pahoa; daughters Paula (James) Silva and Linda Wong both of Pahoa, and Terry Cunningham of Kona; mother Rose Medeiros of Hilo; mother-in-law Bernice (James) Tremaine of Hilo; brothers Stanley Reny of Honolulu and Richard Reny of Maui; sisters Rosemary (Peter) Solomon of Waianae and Bettylou (Mike) Aguiar of Fern Forest; brothers-in-law John (Geri) Arruda of Honolulu, Manuel (Coleen) Arruda of Texas and Anthony (Jenifer) Arruda of Colo.; sister-in-law, Lena (Steven) Snedeker of Hilo; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo; the wake service begins at 7 p.m. Burial will be held at a later date on Kaua‘i at Kauai Memorial Gardens in Lihu‘e. Casual attire is suggested.
Arrangements are being handled by Dodo Mortuary and Kauai Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home.
Tokumatsu Gushiken
Tokumatsu Gushiken of Kilauea died on Jan. 25, 2008, at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital at the age of 98.
Born in Ewa Beach, O‘ahu on Aug. 15, 1909, he moved to Kilauea with his family at the age of 2. He worked as a store clerk at Kong Lung Co. and later did part-time work as a fry cook at the Hanalei Plantation Hotel. After retiring from Kong Lung Co. he worked with the Fish and Wildlife at the Kilauea lighthouse for five years.
He joined the Kilauea Senior Center where he became a very active participant. He served as vice president, president and secretary for the Senior Gardening project and as a legislative delegate lobbying for the concerns of the seniors at the State Capital.
He was also involved in the VOICE (Volunteer Organization in Concern of the Elderly) program and a RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) member for over 15 years.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Kikue Miyasaki Gushiken; sons Jack (Sharon) of Kilauea, Alan of Kilauea, Ralph (Jill) of Calif., Leslie (Donna) of Kilauea, and Spencer of Kilauea Social Club; grandchildren, Lynne of Calif., Clyne (Eva) of Europe, Lee of Kilauea, Cari of Calif., Michael (Stacie) of Kilauea and Grant of Kilauea; great-grandchildren, Kevin, Jennifer, Andjela, Kiana and Russell; brothers John (Bette) of O‘ahu and Howard of O‘ahu; sisters Elaine Nakano of O‘ahu, Gladys (Henry) Chee of O‘ahu, Tome (Seijin) Hokama of Hilo and Sueko (Satoru) Togashi of Calif.; sister-in-law Tomiko of Kilauea; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Shigeru (Tomiko) and Kuhei; and sisters Ellen (Douglas) Kaya and Kameko (Lincoln) Sokei.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. and services will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Kilauea Christ Memorial Episcopal Church. Private inurnment to occur at a later date. The family requests casual attire and that flowers be omitted.
Special thanks to Dr. Collins and staff at Mahelona Hospital.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the Gushiken family with arrangements.
