Roland "Lolagi" John Glenister

Roland was born on February 25, 1941, in Mulifanua, Western Samoa, to Taufaga’afa Frederick Sidney Norman Glenister and Annie Selina Tofaeono (Bahn) Glenister. He attended Marist Brothers Primary School in Mulivai, Apia, Western Samoa, and Marist Brothers Primary School in Aua, American Samoa. He returned to Western Samoa to attend the country’s premier all boys Catholic secondary school, Saint Joseph College (Marist Brothers), in Apia, and completed high school through Newport/Pacific High School. Roland was a skilled craftsman, completing numerous trade certifications, including welding from South Bay Trade Schools and graphic reproduction from San Diego City College.

In his early years, Roland worked as a storekeeper for his father at Burns, Philp & Co., Ltd., a major Australian merchant and shipping line whose branch in Pago Pago, American Samoa, served as a crucial retail, mail, and shipping hub in the South Pacific. Roland continued to work as a storekeeper, cashier, and “jack-of-all-trades” when his father became the manager and chief operating officer of Burns Philp in Gataivai/Utulei, American Samoa. At age 20, he began his career as a professional tradesman at Van Camp Seafood Company, working as a mechanic and welder apprentice in the maintenance department. From April 1964 to August 1970, he worked at StarKist Samoa, Inc., in Pago Pago as the Maintenance Department Lead and as the lead machinist, welder, mechanic, pump rebuilder, and HVAC specialist.

In pursuit of his dreams, Lolagi moved to the United States on August 22, 1970. He settled in San Diego, California, and immediately sought machinist/welder re-certification and employment with National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), where he was one of the lead welders during the building of two U.S. Navy San Clemente-class super tankers in the mid-1970s and their subsequent conversion into the floating hospitals USNS MERCY and USNS COMFORT in the 1980s. He petitioned and was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in October 1976. He is a Life Member of the Handyman’s Club of America.

Roland married and later divorced Naijo Christina Nomura of Utulei, American Samoa, then married Bernadette Piuai Gaea originally of Leloaloa and Vaitogi, American Samoa.

He was a devout Catholic and an active participant in the Saint John of the Cross church in San Diego for over 50 years.

Roland will be remembered most for his love of his family, his sense of humor, his appreciation for Heineken beer, and his skills as a craftsman. For many years, he started each morning with a five-mile jog, then carried that same drive into whatever he needed to do next. He built his home in Spring Valley with his own two hands and was rarely still. He was always working on a project, whether it was his classic Chevy or another construction job alongside his sons. He loved his family deeply and took real pride in their milestones, making a point to be there for family reunions, graduations, weddings, and the moments that mattered. The legacy he leaves is not only in what he made, but in what he passed down: intelligence, determination, and the expectation to keep going until the job is done.

Roland is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Bernadette Piuai Gaea Glenister; his children, CW5 (Ret.) Taufaga’afa Lincoln Philip Glenister, CSM (Ret.) Tuaua Roland Emanuel Glenister, SFC (Ret.) Melvin Thomas Glenister, Felila Glenister Moananu, Norman Henry Glenister, Perry Patrick Glenister, and Dolores Bernadette Glenister Cruz; 19 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sisters, Gertrude Glenister Tousoon (New Zealand), Iva Glenister Uiagalelei (American Samoa), and Tatala Glenister Polimo’o (Hawai’i); and his brothers, Frederick Glenister (Washington state) and Norman Glenister (New York).

Roland was preceded in death by his parents, Taufaga’afa Frederick Sidney Norman Glenister and Annie Selina Tofaeono (Bahn) Glenister; sister, Anna Manuma; brother, George Glenister; son, Tsuneo Glenister Nomura; granddaughter, Carissa Glenister; and great-grandson, Jamison Argyle Murphy.