Ryuichi “Riginch” Yamada, 86, of Hilo, died Jan. 26 at home. Born in Waiakea Town, he was a retired salesman for Y. Hata & Co. Ltd., an entrepreneur of varied interests, Waiakea Pirates supporter, and U.S. Army World War II veteran. Services held. No koden (monetary gifts) or flowers. Survived by wife, Misao “Nancy” Yamada; son, Bruce (Karla) Yamada; daughter, Avis (Bill) Perreira; stepson, Les Miyasato; sister, Sakiko Miyao; 11 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Doris Anna Armbruster, 87, of Las Vegas, formerly of Hilo, died Feb. 13 Las Vegas. Born in Chicago, she was a real estate broker and a member of the Wainaku Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Survived by daughters, Susan (Michael) Daniels and Anita Owen; grandson and caregiver Michael Fontes Jr.; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Nobuko Higa, 32, of Hilo died Jan. 20 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in the Marshall Islands, she was a homemaker. Visitation 4-5 p.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 5 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by daughter, Lawrenes Higa of Hilo; father, Ernest Higa of Hilo; brothers, John (Monica) Higa of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Melvet Higa and Shelson Higa of Hilo; sisters, Naomi (Kory Une) Higa of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Darling (Takia Takia) Higa, Alise Higa and Bernice Higa of Hilo, Kalora Aisen of Marshall Islands; three nieces, five nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Robert Pascal Jervis, 89, of Hilo, died Feb. 7 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Andover, Va., he was a retired Minnesota Mutual insurance salesman, former heavy equipment parts manager and U.S. Army World War II veteran. Services held. Survived by son, Michael (Aileen) Jervis of Hilo; daughter, Valerie (Russell) Nakao of Mountain View; sister, Lois Price of Tennessee; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Infant Kellee Napuauiokalani Hui-Lan Kamanu, 0, of Hilo died Feb. 9 at Hilo Medical Center. Services held. Survived by parents, Darryn and Dayna Kamanu of Keaau; brother, Randen (Tiare Perreira-Sang) Kamanu of Keaau; sister, Alohilani Kamanu of Keaau; maternal grandparents, Kel and Jackie Lee of Keaau; hanai sister, Darnell Hanamaikai of Keaau; numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Bessie Shinobu Morita, 82, of Hillsboro, Ore., formerly of Hilo, died Feb. 4 in Portland, Ore. Born in Pepeekeo, she was a retired secretary and office manager for W.H. Shipman and worked for Miko Meats. Services held. Survived by son, Morgan (Lisa) Morita of Hillsboro, Ore.; sisters, Michie Asato of Roseville, Calif., and Tsuyako (Sim) Seiki of San Francisco, Calif.; brother, Makoto (Ayako) Nekoba of Honolulu; sisters-in-law, Jean Nekoba and Takako Nekoba of Hilo; numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Alan James Polito, 68, of South Kohala and Incline Village, Nev., died Jan. 12 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Ridgway, Pa., he was a Ph.D. biochemist whose research included development of diagnostic tests for the hepatitis C virus and other infectious diseases. Services held. Memorial donations to W.M. Keck Observatory, 65-1120 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kamuela, HI 96743. Survived by wife, Carole Polito of South Kohala and Incline Village, Nev.; sister, Mary Margaret (Joe) Boscaino of State College, Pa.; a niece and a nephew. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Albert “Uncle Sonny” I. Prudencio, 82, of Antioch, Calif., formerly of Hilo, died Feb. 7 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a retired employee for the Golden Gate Magazine Co. in San Francisco. Visitation 8:30-10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Survived by sisters, Adelaide (Lloyd) Irwin of San Antonio, Texas, Florence Prudencio of Waipahu, Oahu, Mildred P. Lucas and Isabell Sampaia of Hilo; brother, William Prudencio of Hilo; sister-in-law, Marina Prudencio of San Francisco; caregivers, Jose “Maurcio” and Zoila Salazar of Antioch; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Valentine “Val” Santarone Sr., 58, of Mountain View died Jan. 17 at home. Born in Elmira, N.Y., he was former operations manager for Doonwood Engineering on Oahu, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, National Rifle Association member and Kulia I Ka Nu’u Outreach board member. Services on Oahu and the Big Island at a later date. Survived by wife, Darlene Leilani Santarone of Mountain View; sons, Anthone K. Santarone and Valentine “Val” Santarone, Jr. of Mountain View, HI; five grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Herbert Yuji Ushiroda Sr., 89, of Kealakekua died Jan. 22 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Kealakekua, he was owner of the former Herbert’s Service Station in Kealakekua, a member of Kona Lions Club, Automotive Business Association and an Army veteran. Private services; no koden. Survived by wife, Yoshie Ushiroda of Kealakekua; sons, Herbert Ushiroda, Jr. of Honolulu, Darryl (Gloria) Ushiroda and Dain (Jenny) Ushiroda of Kealakekua, Aaron Ushiroda of Kailua-Kona, Todd (Irene Stone) Ushiroda of Tucson, Ariz.; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Ryuichi “Riginch” Yamada, 86, of Hilo, died Jan. 26 at home. Born in Waiakea Town, he was a retired salesman for Y. Hata & Co. Ltd., an entrepreneur of varied interests, Waiakea Pirates supporter, and U.S. Army World War II veteran. Services held. No koden (monetary gifts) or flowers. Survived by wife, Misao “Nancy” Yamada; son, Bruce (Karla) Yamada; daughter, Avis (Bill) Perreira; stepson, Les Miyasato; sister, Sakiko Miyao; 11 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.