Richard Fugio Takahashi

Our dad was born Richard Fugio Takahashi on November 10, 1937 in Aiea, Hawaii. He was one of 11 children born to our grandmother Yuki Miyoshi. He had 4 brothers and 6 sisters. He was born third to the youngest, and sadly on Thursday, October 19, 2017 he was called to heaven to join all 10 of his brothers and sisters who had passed before him. Matsuko (Sally), Hanako, Kotaro, Tomiko, Aiko, Shizuko (Shizo), Masuru (Maxie), Isamu, Hatsue (Myrtle) and Ernest. Because dad came from such a large family, many of his nieces and nephews were more like his sisters and brothers.

Dad attended Saint Louis School in Hawaii. It was, and still is, an historic private Catholic prep school for boys. He was the only child that was able to go to a private school, and for this he knew he was very fortunate and thankful. He was a very intelligent young man and wanted to be a doctor and further his education, but his family could not afford college.

Soon after, he joined the Marine Corps and wore his uniform with great pride. Early in his career with the Marines dad competed in boxing and swimming. His pride of being a Marine would carry throughout the rest of his life. He also took great pride in reminding us each year that his birthday was also the Marine Corp birthday.

Not too long after joining the Marines, he met his future wife, Patsy Patricia Bongo. They were married on January 5, 1957 at the Church of the Living God in Honolulu, Hawaii. The reception followed at Pearl City Tavern on Kamehameha Hwy.

A year later their first child Rick was born on February 27, 1958. Pam followed on February 18, 1960, and their last, Cissy (Paris) was born on April 3, 1967.

Aside from being a Marine, dad was a musician. He had a jazz band and played the saxophone. He had a love for music, singing and song writing. His love of playing in the band lead him to be gone from his wife and young family for many late nights a week. It began to take a toll on his marriage. So although he loved his music, he loved his wife and family more and gave up his band and saxophone. He continued throughout the rest of his life to sing and play instruments like the keyboards, ukulele, and guitar, but only at home or with friends and family.

Dad did two tours in Vietnam and would tell stories of the things he had seen there, and friends he had lost in the war. He had shrapnel in his back and in later years had begun to lose his hearing in both ears due to all the explosions and gun fire he was subject to in the war. It was in Vietnam where dad tapped into the artist in himself. He kept a sketch book of various drawings. Among them were drawings of his wife and children he had to leave behind for Vietnam.

When dad returned home from the war, he was transferred to a number of places over the course of his career with the Marine Corps. His faithful wife and children would follow him. After 25 years of serving as a proud Marine, he decided to retire as a Gysgt. and settle down in San Diego in 1976. He chose San Diego because his older brother, Kotaro, lived there and had a job waiting for him at Nasco Shipyard. Dad also liked San Diego because a lot of his buddies from the Marine Corps had also retired there.

Dad liked to fix things, and went back to school to learn about appliance repair. After graduating from tech school, he started working at Nutter’s Appliance as an appliance technician. After several years of working there, he started his own appliance repair business with his best friend Kenneth, whom he called his brother. K & R Appliance was the name of their business. Several years later, dad decided to go to work for Montgomery Ward’s appliance repair department and stayed long enough to retire once again.

After 28 years of living in their home in Lemon Grove, CA, dad agreed to let mom sell their house so that she could be closer to their grandchildren who lived in San Jacinto, two hours away from San Diego.

Dad liked to go to the casinos, visit with friends and family and have a good laugh. He and mom would often get together with friends at the Oceanside VFW and the La Mesa VFW, where he was voted Ship’s Captain for that location. He was intrigued by all the new electronic gadgets like computers, smart phones and tablets. He enjoyed shopping for new guitars and ukuleles or anything music related, and all the accessories to go with it. His favorite store was Guitar Center. He also enjoyed chocolate candy and soda. Dad was a father of 3, grandfather of 8 and great grandfather of 5. He taught his children respect, hard work, the importance of family and remembering our roots and it’s history in Hawaii.

On January 5, 2017 he and mom made it to their 60th anniversary. Shortly after that on January 15, 2017 the love of his life passed away. His world as he had known it had come to an end. He would often say that she was his best friend. He missed her every second of every day that he remained with us. He couldn’t bare living in their home with all the memories, so he sold their house and moved to an apartment in a gated senior community in Murrieta, CA. There, he decorated his new home with mom’s favorite things. He went back to Hawaii 3 months after her passing. He would call crying, and say that Hawaii wasn’t the same without her.

All through his own pain and sadness, he was still looking out for his children. He didn’t want us to spend too much time with him. He would say that we needed to be at work or to go home to take care of our own families, and to not worry about him.

Dad passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2017. He was alone in his home. It is comforting to believe that the Lord was with him at that moment, taking away all his pain, sadness, and suffering from his broken heart, and that mom was waiting for him, and of course he didn’t hesitate to be with her once again.

We love and miss you dad.