Honolulu Star-Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • B5

Jason James Lapot 39, of Aiea, died in Aiea on Monday, June 7, 2021. He was born in Honolulu. Matthew M. A. Laroya 33, of Honolulu, HI, died in Honolulu, HI on Saturday, May 8, 2021.

He was born in Honolulu, HI. Services: Walk Through on Saturday, June 26 at Diamond Head Mortuary. Sarai Lesser 64, of Hilo, died in Honolulu, Hawaii on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. She was born in Paia, Western Samoa. Randall Martin Lichter 63, of Kailua, died in Kailua on Saturday, May 15, 2021.

He was born in Illinois. Rohelio Magdaleno Magarro 71, of Waipahu, died in Medical Center West on May 7, 2021. He was born in Honolulu. Services: 10:00 am on Friday, June 18 at Hawaii State Cemetery. Inurnment to follow.

Vivian J. Mendes 92, of Kaneohe, Hawaii, died in Honolulu on Thursday, June 3, 2021. She was born in Kahuku, Hawaii. Alfred Alfonso Mendiha 72, of Kapolei, HI, died in Kapolei on April 11, 2021. He was born in Honolulu, HI.

Private services held. Trudy Mikie Merchant 73, of Kapolei, Hawaii, died in Aiea on April 28, 2021. She was born in Lihue, Kauai. Services: 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Hompa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin.

Inurnment: 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 13 at Nuuanu Memorial Park. Alvin Haruo Morishita 64, of Pearl City, HI, died in Aiea on March 11, 2021. He was born in Honolulu, HI. Private services held.

Louise Sachiyo Mukai 65, of Honolulu, died on May 4, 2021. She was born in Honolulu. Private service held. Earl Iwao Nakamura 73, of Mililani, HI, died in Ewa Beach on May 6, 2021. He was born in Honolulu, HI.

Private services held. Ryan Hitaru Namba 44, of Aiea, HI, died in Aiea on April 20, 2021. He was born in Honolulu, HI. Private service held. James Masayuki Nekota 90, of Honolulu, HI, died in Honolulu on Sunday, April 18, 2021.

He was born in Honolulu, HI. Private services held. Jack Kaawalauole Park 100, of Pearl City, died in Honolulu on June 1, 2021. He was born in Honolulu. James "Jimmy" Mendigosa Poyo, Sr.

87, of Aiea, Hawaii, died in Aiea on April 10, 2021. He was born in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii. Private Services held. Rosalina Bangloy Racca 87, of Los Banos, CA, died in Los Banos on Sunday, April 18, 2021. She was born in Pinili, Ilocos Norte, Philippines.

Private services held. Josette Fujie Rapoza 66, of Ewa Beach, HI, died in Ewa Beach, HI on May 28, 2021. She was born in Honolulu, HI. Trinidad "Ining" Florendo Romero 93, of Mana, Kauai, died in Honolulu, HI on May 12, 2021. She was born in Pidding, Philippines.

Burial: 12:00 pm on Tuesday, June 15 at Valley of the Temples. Artemio C. Sagucio 79, of Ewa Beach, died in Ewa Beach on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. He was born in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, PI. Visitation: 10:30 11:30 am on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Valley of the Temples Mortuary Lower Chapel.

Burial: 1:00 pm at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park Cemetery. Harold Y. Shiroma 94, of Kaneohe, HI, died in Honolulu, HI on June 1, 2021. He was born in Hilo, HI. BARBARA LYNN PRETTY Barbara Lynn Pretty, beloved wife and mother, faithful friend, teacher, and community leader, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 17, 2021.

She had been in the Navian Hospice in Kailua for almost a week, and died of untreatable complications caused by metastatic breast cancer which she had been dealing with for the last three years. She is survived by her husband, Robert Stanfield, two sons, Daniel and Ryan Stanfield, and step-son, Dylan Stanfield, and step-daughter, Verena Kurz. Barbara was born on October 27, 1954, and grew up in Allen Park Michigan. She attended Western Michigan University and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in deaf education. (She later added a masters in counselling.) She got her first teaching job in California in 1976, and came to Hawaii the next year to take a job as a classroom teacher at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind.

She spent over 40 years working for the Department of Education (DOE), including positions as a Resource Teacher for the Honolulu District and as an Itinerant Teacher for the Windward District. She also worked as an interpreter, was the Director for the initial two Family Learning Vacation programs in Hawaii for families of deaf children, and served for many years on the Special Education Advisory Council. Barbara was also active in the community, volunteering and eventually serving as president of the Symphony Guild which annually held a Fun Run in Kahala which attracted hundreds of runners, raised thousands for the Symphony, and brought many runners, often for the first time, to the Symphony for a concert with tickets they got for entering the Fun Run. Her church membership was very important to her. She grew up in the Allen Park Presbyterian Church; was a member and a Deacon in the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu; and most recently, became a member in the Central Union Church.

She loved choral music, and sang in the First Presbyterian Church choir, the Central Union Church choir, the Honolulu Symphony Choir, and a choir of Hawaii singers led by Tim Carney which toured Austria and the Czech Republic in the summer of 2018. She supported the Diamond Head Theater by organizing a crew to run the canteen before and at intermission of performances, was one of the officers of the Newcomers Club welcoming new residents to Honolulu, helped in numerous Hawaii Symphony Associates events, and volunteered as a docent at Washington Place and Queen At the center of life was family and friends. Once Barbara made you her friend, you often were a friend for life. She kept in touch with friends she had met in elementary school, at summer camps, in college, in past jobs, and on tours and cruises. At the core of it all was that she really was interested in you, in what was going on in your life, what you were feeling, what you were dealing with.

We all miss her greatly. A celebration of life will be held at the Central Union Church Sanctuary (1660 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96826) on June 26, 2021, beginning with a Drive-Thru Visitation from 2 pm to 2:30 pm, and services beginning at 3 pm. For the Drive-Thru Visitation with the family, please enter from Punahou Street, cross the Great Lawn, and turn left to pass in front of the Sanctuary for the visitation with the family. Those who also wish to attend the service in the Sanctuary after the Visitation, can continue on to the parking area on the Great Lawn. The Celebration of Life Service is open to all to attend, but it would help to insure there are adequate accommodations for all if you would register for the event at http://events.constantcontact.com/ or contact Jane Nagel at Central Union Church For parking, please enter from Punahou Street, and follow the guidance of the parking lot volunteers on where to park.

After parking, please proceed to the Sanctuary to sign in, be screened for fever, and be guided to assigned seating. Seating for the service in the Sanctuary will begin at 2 pm, be socially distanced, and will require wearing of masks. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to three organizations that Barbara wished to support. They include: Allen Park Presbyterian Church (USA), 7101 Park Avenue, Allen Park, Michigan 48101, In Memory of Barbara Pretty Kapiolani Health Foundation, Attn: Emily Naula, Executive Office, 1319 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96826, In Honor of Barbara Pretty and Supporting the Kapiolani Cancer Center Symphony Orchestra, 3610 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816; In Memory of Barbara Pretty RONALD T. FUJIWARA Ronald T.

Fujiwara passed away on May 23, 2020. He was born in Honolulu, and was a proud graduate of Farrington High School and later UH Law School. He was a distinguished educator and a relentless advocate for fairness in the workplace. He was a loving and supportive father to his two daughters and his son, and a best friend and partner-in-crime to his three grandchildren. He is survived by his children Katie, Amie, and Jean-Paul "Tosh" Fujiwara.

Services with social distancing will be held at 3pm, Friday, June 18, 2021 at Hawaiian Memorial Park (Lake View). Koden accepted and will be donated to the Kalihi YMCA. ALTA RUSSELL BENTO Alta Russell Bento, Mitchell, died peacefully in her sleep at her home on February 2, 2020. She was 95. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Alta remained a Canadian citizen.

She was a kind and generous person who was beloved by many people of many cultures and many ages. She is missed! Alta met her husband, Stanley Francis Bento, from Wailuku, Maui, at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in the drama department, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After they were married, they moved to Oahu and raised a family of 4 children. Alta and Stanley Bento were big supporters of public education. All four of their children graduated from public high school, then college, and then completed graduate work in various fields of education.

long life was eventful and full of friendships. Her three careers included, theatre and radio production, teaching high school English and drama, and then adult education English. In retirement she managed ElderHostel trips throughout the south pacific. She enjoyed traveling, meeting new people, and being introduced to their cultures. She was an avid reader and participated in the AAUW book club for more than 50 years.

The book club met in her home just a few days before she died. She also volunteered for the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program in the public schools. Alta Russell Bento is survived by her children: Stanley Francis Bento, Catharine Alta Bento (Heath) Foxlee, Robert Mitchell (Marge) Bento, and Mary Elizabeth Bento; grandchildren: Hunter Coberly, Cullyn and Dylan Nohea Foxlee, Ian Francis Kealoha and Malia Rose Walker. A Celebration of Life has yet to be scheduled, for details please call (808) 658-0151 or (808) 658-6499. CHAD MANNING SALVADOR 52, of Mililani, passed away on May 16, 2021.

He is survived by his parents, Doreen "Joy" Michael Parrilla; siblings, Donovan Parrilla, Heidi Salvador, Jason Salvador. Private service to be held. Arrangements Provided By: Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary HOWARD TADASHI WATANABE 98, of Kaneohe, passed away on May 29, 2021. He was born in Makaweli, Kauai. Private service.

Family requests no monetary gifts, please. Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary ROBERT K. TORREY March 11, 1935 May 26, 2021 On a wintry day in February 1957, Dr. John Fox, Punahou School president, recruited Princeton senior Bob Torrey as part of a cadre of bright Ivy Leaguers. After two years, Bob won a U.S.

Cuban government grant to study in Cuba, but Fidel Castro had other plans, so Bob landed at Blair Academy in New Jersey where his son Kent was born. Graduate study (Latin American Studies) at Stanford University soon followed. Bob then moved to Long Island, New York, commuting to Manhattan to his advertising jobs with J. Walter Thompson and Young Rubicam. family now included daughter Ninia Uninspired by advertising work, Bob returned to Punahou in 1967, rehired by Dr.

Rod McPhee. Born in Michigan, Bob soon became a genuine kamaaina, marrying a local girl and embracing culture and music. From 1967 to his retirement in 1998, he enjoyed highly productive years at Punahou, teaching all history courses except Russian. He nurtured many Advanced Placement students while creating courses in African, Latin American and Middle Eastern history, the latter a rarity in an American high school. He helped devise Humanities, a course merging social studies, English and science.

Bob traveled on sabbaticals to Europe, Africa, and Latin America. In 1982, he earned a degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and in 1994, studied in Israel and Egypt as a Fulbright Scholar. In 1996, he became co-director of the Wo International Center, organizing summer programs for students from Asia and directing European study abroad for Punahou students. Bob relished working with diverse students, many becoming friends. He liked to say he had taught three presidents: Barack Obama, POTUS 44, Punahou and two Punahou School presidents, James Scott and Michael Latham He often said teaching at Punahou was the best job.

He learned as much from students as they from him, and every day was a different challenge. His family includes his wife Joyce, son Kent (Ann Andros) and daughter Nia Bob grew up in Bermuda and Connecticut with his parents, Lyle B. and Gretchen Torrey, and his brothers, all Princeton men: William C. Torrey (deceased), Lyle Blair Torrey (deceased) and Richard D. Torrey.

Ever the teacher, Bob has donated his body to the Willed Body Program at John A. Burns School of Medicine. His ashes will be scattered at his favorite places: Honolulu, Hanalei, Ashland (Oregon), San Francisco, New York and Paris Donations in memory may be made to Punahou School (for financial aid), Hawaii FoodBank, or to your favorite charity. A private Celebration of Life is being planned. Condolences may be sent to The Torrey Family, 4389 Malia Street, Apt.

122, Honolulu, Hawaii 96821. JEAN KADOOKA MARDFIN Jean Kadooka Mardfin passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 26, after three days in Maui Memorial Hospital. Jean was 77 and had suffered with Disease for several years but ultimately died of liver failure. Jean was born to Tsutomu and Masako Mayeda Kadooka of Hilo on March 16, 1944. After Hilo High, she graduated from Western Reserve University (Cleveland) with a BA in Psychology and a MS in Library Science.

In 1962 at WRU she met Ward Mardfin who attended Case Institute of Technology. After graduation, she moved to Bethesda, Maryland where she worked as a Catalog Librarian for the National Institute of Health. In 1968, Jean moved to Honolulu to be with Ward and got a temporary job as Catalog Librarian for the Municipal Reference Library. In 1969, Mayor Frank Fasi hired her as the permanent City Librarian which made her an agency head directly under the Mayor. That same year Jean and Ward married for life.

During her dozen years with the City and County of Honolulu, Jean transformed the Library into the Municipal Reference and Records Center with the addition of a City Archives and a Records Management Program. Meanwhile she earned a MA in Political Science from UH (Manoa) in 1973. Following the change in Mayor in 1981, Jean attended the University of Hawaii Richardson Law School where she earned her JD in 1984 and passed the Hawaii Bar Exam and joined the State Bar the same year. At first Jean did freelance legal research but eventually became a Legislative Researcher for the State of Legislative Reference Bureau for another dozen years where she authored or co-authored more than 17 publications. She loved her retirement in Hana, Maui, since 2002.

Her greatest joy was taking excellent care of her pets (female dogs "Hula Girl" and later "Kiko and and male cat Throughout her life she loved sewing and making quilts and rag rugs; gardening; and canning local fruits and other goodies. She was always an avid reader. In retirement she volunteered as the head of branch of the Maui Friends of the Library, volunteered at Mahele Farms, attended Womens Book Group, and helped lead the Hana Lani Club for seniors. Jean is survived by her brother, Dr. Craig Kadooka and his family in Hilo, as well as her husband, Ward with whom she celebrated 52 years of marriage on August 2021.

As she wanted, her body was donated to the University of Hawaii Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu to aid medical students. Donations may be made in her name to the Hana Community Endowment Fund, Maui Humane Society, Maui Friends of the Library. No memorial service is planned at this time. In Memoriam IN MEMORY DENOTES U.S. MILITARY VETERAN Japanese families and se- niors, said children enrolled in its Japanese-language school watch KIKU to prac- tice and brush up on their skills.

Nishioka also has a per- sonal affinity for several KIKU shows, such as the travel and culture show ga which got her excited to visit Japan, and the period drama which helped get her mom through a three- week hospital stay. has a lot to do with cul- ture because their lan- she said. Hawaii, KIKU brought us together. I think going to be some- thing missed, and not just by Japanese and Filipino families. Regardless of what ethnicity you are, going to take away the culture and that Larry Ordonez is host of on KNDI and president of Ethnic Educa- tion Hawaii, which works to ensure local programming is broadcast in various lan- guages.

He said that for many Hawaii residents, shows are a lifeline and a cultural bridge. Ordonez, who immigrated from Ilocos Sur in the Philip- pines to Hawaii 51 years ago and is fluent in Tagalog and Ilocano, said he receives far fewer calls from listeners when popular shows such as the news programs tang and Pa- are on the air. He knows watching KIKU. He and Nishioka also point out that English is not the native language for many Japanese and Filipino seniors, so having shows they can easily understand is vital. That echoes census data showing that nearly one-third of Hawaii residents speak a language other than English at home.

And of those residents, about have limited or no English proficiency. immigrants) leave their friends and family and know anyone here. gone through that person- Ordonez said. these cultural programs brings that closeness to home. If we keep light- ing the candle, be Ishizuka is still hoping to find community members who can help save KIKU pro- gramming, whether that be through a grassroots effort or donations.

Nishioka said the Moiliili center plans to show more Japanese pro- grams and videos for se- niors. And Ordonez and his radio station colleagues are always looking for opportu- nities to collaborate with local stations. Japanese and Filipino pro- gramming is still available on the Nippon Golden Network, NHK World-Japan, The Fili- pino Channel and GMA Network, but they are sub- scription cable channels, un- like KIKU, which broadcasts for free. Joanne Ninomiya, founder and president of JN Produc- tions which managed foreign-language pro- gramming for more than a decade, said licensing Japa- nese shows is difficult and costly, especially for older programs. She said some programs, like the super- hero series still have large followings.

I know come up to me and say they used to watch KIKU and (share) their memories. There are so many anec- dotes. always taken Ninomiya said. time spent with KIKU from 1993 to 2004 were some of the most enjoyable years for JN Productions, and I have so many fond memo- ries of the people I worked with in Japan, my staff back then, the viewers and spon- sors. It was very Jayna Omaye covers ethnic and cultural affairs and is a corps member with Report for America, a national serv ice organization that places jour- nalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities.

LOCAL DAY 6 1 3 2 1 TA A I B5 KIKU Continued from B1 In Hawaii, KIKU brought us together. I think going to be something missed, and not just by Japanese and Filipino families. Nadine Nishioka Executive director, Moiliili Community Center.