Former state Department of Education Kaua’i District Superintendent Barton H. Nagata, who also had a long and successful career selling real estate on the island, is being remembered as “a fine gentleman, one of the beautiful people of Kaua’i.” He
Former state Department of Education Kaua’i District Superintendent Barton H. Nagata, who also had a long and successful career selling real estate on the island, is being remembered as “a fine gentleman, one of the beautiful people of Kaua’i.”
He passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on Sunday, Dec. 7. He was 85.
After he retired from the DOE, he went to work for Kauai Realty, selling real estate.
“Barton was a fine gentleman, well-respected, well-liked. He enjoyed working with people,” said Mark Tanaka, executive vice president of Kauai Realty Inc.
“He’s going to be definitely missed,” said Tanaka, who described Nagata as “one of the beautiful people of Kaua’i.”
Nagata’s island-wide connections made him successful in real estate, Tanaka said.
“He had a tremendous network island-wide. He knew them, and they knew him.”
Nagata retired again, this time from Kauai Realty, around the time of Hurricane ‘Iniki, in 1992, Tanaka said.
Yet he remained active with various clubs and organizations until his death.
He is survived by his wife, Toshie T. Nagata of Lihu’e; sons Keith (Gayle) Nagata of Honolulu and Roy Nagata of Lihu’e; daughter, Cynthia (Wayne) Higashi of Honolulu; three grandchildren; and a brother, Tsutomu (Fumiko) Nagata of Kahului.
Friends may visit with the family at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Lihue Christian Church. A service officiated by Pastor James Koyama will begin at 10 a.m. Aloha attire is suggested, and the family requests flowers be omitted.
Arrangements are being handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Associate Editor Paul C. Curtis may be reached at pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
