Randall Kubota

Randall “Randy” Keith Kubota of Montgomery, Texas, died on April 24 at age 65. His wife, two daughters, and their husbands were at his side. Other family members were unable to join them because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but kept a vigil from their homes through his final days. The cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Born and raised in Ithaca, New York, Randy earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in 1977. His family had deep ties to Cornell University, where his father, Joe Kubota, was a research scientist, and his mother was an administrator in the Admissions and the Natural Resources Departments. Randy’s parents predeceased him.

Since childhood, Randy’s passion was ice hockey. He led and captained teams in youth hockey leagues and at Ithaca High School. He was the first Ithaca High alumnus to make Cornell’s freshman hockey team. At Cornell, Randy was a member of the Chi Psi fraternity, which was the center of his college life and gave rise to life-long friendships with many fraternity brothers.

Following his graduation from college, Randy moved to Houston, Texas, and began a 43-year career in the oil industry. During his early years in Houston, Randy met and married Michelle McMahon, a geologist. Their daughter, Allison Marie, was born in 1986. The family then moved to Aberdeen, Scotland, where Randy was the Drilling Manager for Texaco’s North Sea operations. Their daughter, Elizabeth Anne, was born in 1989.

In 1994, Randy and his family moved to London, England, where he served as Texaco’s Asset Manager of the Galley Field in the North Sea. In 2000, he advanced professionally to become Texaco’s General Manager of International Subsea Drilling, and was based in Houston. In 2002, Chevron purchased Randy’s long-time employer, Texaco. Randy worked as a General Manager for Chevron, operating its global subsea engineering and support functions. His work took him to more than 25 countries a year, including Nigeria, Columbia, Southeast Asia, and Kazakhstan.

Randy retired from Chevron in 2010, and was quickly recruited out of retirement to lead Wild Well Control’s engineering team after the Deepwater Horizon blowout. Following Wild Well in 2012, Randy became the Director of Operations for CCED, an oil production company in Muscat, Oman. Michelle and Randy spent five years living in the Sultanate of Oman, and loved snorkeling and fishing in the beautiful Indian Ocean. They returned to Houston in 2017, to enjoy their retirement and Randy’s “team” of Labrador retrievers.

Randy was beloved for his spirit, his generous heart, and his boundless energy. His daily and seemingly countless acts of generosity, loyalty, and kindness came from a place of pure goodness in his heart. He was warm and humble, with a beautiful smile and a ready laugh. He adored his wife and daughters; they were the very center of his life.

He is survived by his wife, Michelle McMahon Kubota; his daughters Allison McCarty and her husband Brett McCarty, and Elizabeth Kubota-Mishra and her husband Scott Mishra; his brothers, Robert Joe Kubota and John Stuart Kubota, and his sister, Carolyn Kubota; his two Labrador retrievers, Duke and Gunner; and numerous Kubota and McMahon nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be planned for later in the year when Randy’s family and friends can safely come together to celebrate his life. He will be missed.

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To Make Donations in Memory of Randy:

In lieu of gifts and in honor of Randall “Randy” Kubota, below is a list of organizations, compiled by his family, where donations can be made in his name. Should you like to contribute, please follow the instructions and visit the donations links below.

**American Diabetes Association - Houston

Randy was a board member for the American Diabetes Association - Houston (ADA-H) from 2004- 2013. He was chairman of the annual Walk for Diabetes in Houston and The Woodlands, Texas, and chairman of the ADA-H Board from 2011-2013.

Please make the donation “In honor of Randall Kubota.”

You may be given the option to notify the Kubota family of your donation. If so, please include: Allison Kubota; [email protected]

**Cornell University Ice Hockey Program

Randy grew up in Ithaca, New York, and was a great hockey player. Upon entering Cornell University he played for the “Big Red.” Growing up, Cornell’s Lynah Rink was a second home to Randy and his family, so they’ve established a fund to support Big Red Hockey and the rink. Donations will be used to dedicate a locker in Randy’s name in the Cornell men’s ice hockey locker room.

To donate, please make checks payable to: Cornell University.

Please include a note indicating that this donation “is in memory of Randy Kubota, Class of `77.”

Please mail your check and note to:

Cornell University

Box 37334

Boone, IA 50037-0334

***Cornell uses a processing company in Iowa, which is why the mailing address isn’t based in NY

**Japanese American National Museum

Randy was of Japanese-American descent. The Japanese American National Museum was important to him and he donated to this organization annually.

In the comments section please list, “In memory of Randall and Joe Kubota.”

Please select the option to notify the Kubota family of your donation: Allison Kubota; [email protected]

**Montgomery County Food Bank

For the past several years, Randy and the extended Kubota family volunteered their time during the holiday season at the Montgomery County Food Bank in Montgomery, Texas. He enjoyed volunteering and giving back to the local community where he lived.

Please make the donation “In honor of Randall Kubota.”

Please select the option to notify the Kubota family of your donation: Allison Kubota; [email protected]