Albert Ortiz Mercado

Our father, grandfather/Ojii, Sensei, Kuya, neighbor, and friend, Albert Ortiz Mercado went to be with his Lord on November 13, 2023 at his home on Maui, Hawaii. He was born on March 16,1946, in Naga Cebu in the central Philippines to Flora Ortiz and Luis Mercado. His grandfather was a cavalry Sergeant in the US Army. His family owned a large plantation and he spoke often and fondly about his times there and driving the family’s jeepnee when he was 14. He lived on his family’s plantation until his family immigrated to the US when he was 16.

He graduated from East Islip High School and was drafted into the Army shortly after. In 1968, while stationed in Ft. Carson, he met and married Irene Garcia in Pueblo, Colorado. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Affairs from St. Mary’s College. He served as Sergeant First Class for a number of years before being direct commissioned to First Lieutenant. He later served as an Infantry officer within the newly formed special operations command. As a Captain, he deployed to the Persian Gulf for Desert Shield, Desert Storm and after the liberation of Kuwait, went to Northern Iraq in Operation Provide Comfort to assist with the Kurds. Shortly after, he was promoted to Major and as a staff officer, his last assignment was as a liaison officer for the US Military Academy at West Point. Major Mercado retired from the US Army in 2006. The military was definitely a significant part of his story.

Ichiba was not only a soldier but lived his life as a bushi (warrior). Ichiba Sensei was a student and instructor of Shotokan Karate-do and Tai Chi Chuan for over 50 years. He authored the book Karate-do: The Art of Defense in 1988 with a complete revision published in 2012. He even acted as Mr. Choki in the film, Kick Me. Until his passing, he still did his daily practice with walks and Tai Chi around the neighborhood methodically at 7am.

He was extremely disciplined but was balanced with grace and humility. On the day we found him, everything was in its place ready for inspection, nothing out of order, his karate books and his open Bible on his table for daily reading and study.

Those who interacted with him may have never known his story. Albert appeared as a simple man, with a simple faith but was given a significant life. He partook of the tree of life by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior in 1975 and shared and served his Lord faithfully in all that he did until the day of his passing. His life verse written in the front of his worn Bible is I Corinthians 10:31. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”He is survived by his son A.J. (wife Tiffinie), grandsons Micaiah and Isaiah and his siblings: Joan, Joyce, Lisa, and Jim.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 11am at Graceway Church (5460 Blue Ridge Cut-off, Kansas City, MO 64133 816.358.1515). We invite all that knew him to come and celebrate him. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to the National Museum of the American Indian and Samaritan’s Purse, two organizations he continued to support.