Juan ‘Tony’ Magaoay
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Juan “Tony” Magaoay passed away on Oct. 29, 2018, at the age of 79.
He leaves his beloved wife of 56 years, Marjorie (Tano) Magaoay, daughters Tami (Bill) Brillante, Sandi (Darrin) Skousen and Wendi (Brad) Sato, sons Barry (Keri) and Tony (Gina), grandchildren Aisha (Jesse), Isaiah, Daniel, DJ, Luke, Michael Pono, Maile, Peter, Raven, Jade, Giovanni, Aviana, Orion and Mia. He also leaves siblings Arcinnia Dugay, Rosita (Fred) Camero, Calixto, Pasito, and Carmen (Richard) Ramirez, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by parents Basilio Magaoay and Inocencia (Agonoy).
Known in the community as “Uncle Tony,” he is fondly remembered by the athletes he coached in volleyball, basketball and soccer. He put his family first and was a “kid at heart,” entertaining children with his “magic tricks,” organizing games, or taking them to the beach or mountains.
He was born on Maui on Dec. 4, 1938, and raised on Lanai, where he spent his time playing at the Old Lanai Gym, as well as hiking, diving and fishing.
He played basketball at the Church College of Hawaii, now known as BYU-Hawaii. He then went on to graduate from BYU-Provo in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. In 1962, he married Marjorie and they settled briefly in California, where he was recruited by the U.S. Department of Defense, Naval Air Station Point Mugu, as a computer scientist.
In 1968, he transferred to the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Kauai, working on defense programs such as the Navy’s Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. He retired after 40 years of service.
He also served in various volunteer positions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was the Kekaha Ward bishop from 1983 to 1988, and a missionary with his wife in the Family & Church History Mission in Salt Lake City from 2007 to 2011.
Public viewing will be 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Kekaha Ward, 4587 Amakihi Rd., Kekaha, with a celebration of life and burial to follow at Kekaha Chinese/Japanese cemetery.
The family suggests aloha attire.
