Obituaries for Sunday, February 19, 2023
John R. Racca
John R. Racca
John R. Racca passed away on Jan. 18, 2023, at his home at age 99. Born in the Philippines on June 16, 1923, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and later retired as a salesman for the Honolulu Gas Company.
He was preceded in passing by wife Lita Racca, parents Francisco and Jancinta Racca, son John Racca Jr. and daughter Narcissa Racca.
He is survived by sons Orlando (Suzette) Racca of Lihu‘e, Warren (Angie) Racca of Lihu‘e and Allen (Cyndy) Racca of Wailua, daughter Marilyn (Melvin) Fernandez of Lihu‘e, 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Private services will be held by the family.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
George Tsukamoto
George Tsukamoto, 78, of Kapa‘a, passed away on Feb. 3, 2023. He was born in Honolulu on July 24, 1944. After graduating from Kaua‘i High School he served four years in the Navy as an engineman 3rd class petty officer, stationed at AC Division Twelve at San Diego, and was deployed throughout the Western Pacific, Japan, Okinawa, Philippines and Vietnam. He was a district council 50 union member, and in 1987 he founded Garden Isle Painting Company.
He was preceded in death by parents Takeshi and Chiyoko Tsukamoto, wife Sandra Tsukamoto and daughter Dawn Tsukamoto.
He is survived by the love of his life of 19 years, Puanani Carvalho, sons George (Rie) Thomas Tsukamoto of Kapa‘a and Makana Carvalho of O‘ahu, daughters Jadelyn (Jeff) Eaton of Oregon, LaVerne (Wendell) Packard of Kapa‘a and Leilani (Nick) Seau of Anahola, grandchildren Taylor Tsukamoto, Chance (Madison) Tsukamoto, Keoki Tsukamoto, Kamaile Packard, Kalehua Packard, No‘eau Seau, Kaie‘ie “Tita” Seau and Na‘alehu “Bulla” Seau, great-grandchild Hadley Tsukamoto, sister Lily (Yuki) Higa of Pearl City, O‘ahu, and brother Arthur (Cherie) Tsukamoto of Honolulu.
A service is Tuesday, Feb. 28, at Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. and services at 10 a.m. The family suggests casual attire.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Lawrence ‘Larry’ Rivera
On the evening of Jan. 30, 2023, at the age of 92, legendary and beloved Kaua‘i entertainer Lawrence “Larry” Rivera peacefully passed away at the Garden Isle Healthcare Center in Lihu‘e after a brief battle with cancer.
He was born on Sept. 14, 1930 in Kekaha, to Policarpio and Rose Rivera (deceased). He lived in Wailua Homesteads and is survived by his darling wife of 68 years, Gloria Rivera, and their children Lurline (Michael) Fernandez, Dwayne Rivera, Ilima Rivera, Derek (Ada) Rivera, Leilani (Darryl) Low and Larry (Pam) Rivera Jr., and dozens of grandchildren and great- grandchildren, and their names are…
A celebration of life is Saturday, Feb. 25, at St. Catherine Church in Kapa‘a. Visitation starts at 9:30 a.m., Mass at noon, and burial to follow at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home in Lihu‘e. For additional details, go to LarryRiveraKauai.com.
The Rev. Richard C. Gordon
The Rev. Richard C. Gordon, last of Enola, Pennsylvania, died on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at the age of 79, from pancreatic cancer.
He was an authorized minister in the United Church of Christ since his ordination in 1969. He was born in Addison, Michigan, to the late Robert and Lucile Carlton Gordon, on Sept. 24, 1943.
He held degrees from the University of Hawai‘i, Andover Newton Theological School and Yale Divinity School. He served as the pastor of the Shelton Congregational Church, Shelton, Connecticut; the Kapa‘a United Church of Christ; Chapel Hill United Church of Christ, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; and Willow Street United Church of Christ in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. He also served as stated supply and interim pastor at several churches, and most recently as search and call associate for the UCC Central Pennsylvania Conference.
He participated on many committees and boards throughout the years. He had a passion for serving on the UCC Committee on Ministry. Over many years of his ministry, he participated in the Oasis Ministry for Spiritual Development Program and served as a spiritual director. He had a great love of music, and for a time sang in the Lebanon Valley Chorale and with the River City Singers.
In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his nephew Stephen Gordon.
He is survived by his wife Sandy (Stump Patton) Gordon, sons Daniel (Josette) and Kevin, both of Shermans Dale, Pennsylvania, stepdaughter Christie (Tom) Toto of North Wales, Pennsylvania, stepson Mike Patton (Molly) of Brooklyn, New York, brother John Gordon (Betsy) of Somerset, Michigan, ex-wife Jane (Art) Miller of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, grandchildren Trey Gordon, Severo Gordon, Sophia Gordon, Tommy Toto, Alex Toto and Hugh Patton, and niece Rebecca (Troy) Crotser.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 626 Williams Grove Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
Robert Lee Waid Jr.
Robert Lee Waid Jr. of Naples, Florida, passed away on Feb. 2, 2023. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1940, to Robert and Billie Waid, he was 82.
He graduated from the University of Kansas, where he met his wife, Joyce Ann Campbell, in 1958. Bob was in the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and Joyce was a Delta Gamma. They were married in 1962 in Abilene, Kansas, Joyce’s hometown, then moved to Overland Park, Kansas.
After his father’s retirement, he became the president of Waid’s Restaurants, a popular chain of 13 family restaurants in the Kansas City area.
He had developed an interest in the emerging field of computers, which led to a long and distinguished career with Electronic Data Systems (EDS). They relocated to Dallas, and after 30 years, he retired as an executive manager in the Health Care Division in 1997.
Bob and Joyce then moved from Texas to Kaua‘i, where they lived for 18 years before moving to Naples in 2017.
It was in Hawai‘i where his love for photography and wildlife developed into an ongoing passion. He volunteered at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge Lighthouse and championed the Laysan albatross, publishing a book called “The Majestic Albatross.”
He continued volunteering at several wildlife organizations in Naples, ending his volunteer activity at the Conservancy of Naples. He was also involved in the Black Bear Ridge community, where he served in various roles for the homeowners association.
Bob is survived by Joyce, his wife of 61 years; daughter Natalie, and her husband, Scott, of St. Petersburg, Florida; son Michael, of Seattle; and furry best friend, Barkley. Also surviving are Bob’s younger brother John and his wife Jan, of Vail, Arizona, nephew Jordan, and his children Olivia and Sebastian, of London, England.
He was dedicated to all creatures great and small. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Conservancy of Naples, the Naples Zoo, the World Wildlife Federation, or your local humane society.
A memorial service will be held in Kaua‘i at a later date. “He soars upward on the wings of an albatross.”
Deborah-Lee Leimamo ‘Mamo’ Shimatsu
Deborah-Lee Leimamo “Mamo” Shimatsu passed away on Jan. 24, 2023 in Kekaha, at the age of 65. She was born on Oct. 14, 1957, in Hana, Maui. She was a U.S. Army veteran and an electronics technician.
She was preceded in death by husband Ainsworth Tsugio Shimatsu, parents Caroline Kaimina‘auao Kahula, Alberto Acadamia Ho‘opi‘i and Walter Halenani Dela Cruz, and sister Rowena Alohalani Stone.
She is survived by son Alton (Michelle) Shimatsu of Kekaha, daughters Kayla Shimatsu of Kekaha and Kaesha Shimatsu of Kekaha, grandchildren Aysen and Katon Shimatsu-Gaspar, Zayden, Harley and Harper Shimatsu and Ainslee Ferreira-Kashima, brothers Fabian “Duke” (Renee) Ho‘opi‘i of Maui, Alberto “Junior” Ho‘opi‘i Jr. of Kalaheo, Walter “Hale Boy” (Rose) Dela Cruz of Maui, Robert (Lynn) Dela Cruz of Maui and Glen (Sharon) Dela Cruz of Nevada, sisters Norma-Jean (Dean) Manuel of Waimea and Camille (David) Hesapene of Hanapepe, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life is Friday, Feb. 24, at the Kaumakani Neighborhood Center park. Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and services to follow at 1 p.m.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Gertrude K. Toma
Gertrude K. Toma passed away on Jan. 15, 2023, in Honolulu, at the age of 93. She was born on June 4, 1929, in Waimea. She was a former owner and operator at Big Save, Inc.
She was preceded in death by husband Akira Toma.
She is survived by son Kurt (Allison) Toma, grandchildren Kevin Toma, Kristopher Toma, Kyren Toma, Kalen Fleming, Kyle Fleming and Lauryn Fleming, and sister Edith Tan of Honolulu.
A service will be held at Garden Island Mortuary on Saturday, Feb. 25. Visitation is from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by services.
The family suggests casual attire and requests that flowers be omitted.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Harriet Fumie Iseri
Harriet Fumie Iseri passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 13, 2023, at the age of 99. She was born on April 20, 1923, on Kaua‘i. She was a retired postal clerk in Koloa.
She was preceded in death by parents Suketaro and Shizuno Hamamura, husband Nisuke Iseri, son Steven Farmer, brothers Masamu, Noboru, Tadao, Shigeto, Yorio “Jackson,” Bunto and Hiroaki, sisters Sadako, Tokiko “Gladys” and Toiko, and grandson Dale Farmer.
She is survived by sons Robert (Antoinette “Toni”) Farmer and Neal (Alison) Iseri, grandchildren Carrie Farmer, Kit (Debbie) Farmer, Kyle (Sasha) Farmer, Janine Iseri and Hokulani Iseri, great-grandchildren Mikayla, Ella and Konnor Gonzalez, Kody, Kameron and Karter Farmer, Keanu Ryan Myers and Jayshalyn Michelle Swallow.
A celebration of life is Saturday, March 4, at the West Kauai Hongwanji in Hanapepe, with visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by services at 11 a.m.
Due to COVID-19, masks are required and temperatures will be taken.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Satoru ‘Sat’ Tamashiro
Satoru “Sat” Tamashiro, 94, of Kapa‘a, passed away on Feb. 11, 2023.
He was preceded in death by parents Ginshiro and Matsu Tamashiro, sisters Hiroko Tamashiro Nakamura and Natsu Lau, and brother Charles Y. Tamashiro.
He is survived by sisters Mineko Yamada and Midori Tateishi of Honolulu, six nieces and nephews, 13 grand-nieces and nephews, and four great-grand-nieces and nephews.
He graduated from Kaua‘i High School in 1946 and joined the U.S. Army at 17. He served in post-war Japan until 1949. Under the G.I. Bill of Rights, he attended the RCA Institute in New York City and the Western Electronic Institute in Los Angeles. He was employed as an aircraft test technician by Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California. During his retirement on Kaua‘i, he was a caregiver to his eldest sister, Hiroko T. Nakamura.
Family services will be held in Honolulu, where he will be laid to rest with his parents and eldest sister. No koden, please.
