(Age 90) On Friday, January 15, 2017 in Fairfax, Virginia, due to complications from Alzheimer's. Father of Larry (Kimberly,) Robert, and Neal (Karen); loving grandfather of Rebecca, Jennifer (Zachary), Nathan, Anya, Gregory, and Aaron. Tadao Kobayashi was born in the Palama neighborhood in Honolulu and raised in Kaka'ako where he loved to draw and collect stamps above his family's store. He excelled in academics and was the McKinley High School president of his 1945 graduating class. Tadao was then immediately drafted into the US Army and served in the Military Intelligence Service in postwar Japan, for which he was one of the recent recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011 for service as a Nisei soldier. He returned to graduate from the University of Hawaii in 1950 and was again drafted into the US Army for the Korean conflict. He received his second Bachelors degree from Georgetown University (1954) and a Masters degree from Michigan State (1956). In 1953 he married Miriam (nee Ohta), eventually raising three sons before their divorce. After completing his Masters degree, he became the first Nisei to serve as diplomat in the US Foreign Service. His work took the family to Pakistan, Colombia, Okinawa, and Japan. When he retired from the Foreign Service in 1980, he was awarded the Department of State's Meritorious Honor Bronze Medal. In all these assignments, he maintained his sense of awe, and was a keen observer of the natural beauty around him which he reflected in his photography and painting. His curiosity often led to year-long research on subjects such as the Titanic and Custer's last stand at Little Bighorn. He was a cheerful and often quirky presence in the lives of his sons and their families and his zest for life will be greatly missed. "Celebration of Life" luncheons will be held in both Honolulu and Virginia in the future. At a date yet to be determined, he will be interred in a private ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington D.C.
(Age 90) On Friday, January 15, 2017 in Fairfax, Virginia, due to complications from Alzheimer's. Father of Larry (Kimberly,) Robert, and Neal (Karen); loving grandfather of Rebecca, Jennifer (Zachary), Nathan, Anya, Gregory, and Aaron. Tadao Kobayashi was born in the Palama neighborhood in Honolulu and raised in Kaka'ako where he loved to draw and collect stamps above his family's store. He excelled in academics and was the McKinley High School president of his 1945 graduating class. Tadao was then immediately drafted into the US Army and served in the Military Intelligence Service in postwar Japan, for which he was one of the recent recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011 for service as a Nisei soldier. He returned to graduate from the University of Hawaii in 1950 and was again drafted into the US Army for the Korean conflict. He received his second Bachelors degree from Georgetown University (1954) and a Masters degree from Michigan State (1956). In 1953 he married Miriam (nee Ohta), eventually raising three sons before their divorce. After completing his Masters degree, he became the first Nisei to serve as diplomat in the US Foreign Service. His work took the family to Pakistan, Colombia, Okinawa, and Japan. When he retired from the Foreign Service in 1980, he was awarded the Department of State's Meritorious Honor Bronze Medal. In all these assignments, he maintained his sense of awe, and was a keen observer of the natural beauty around him which he reflected in his photography and painting. His curiosity often led to year-long research on subjects such as the Titanic and Custer's last stand at Little Bighorn. He was a cheerful and often quirky presence in the lives of his sons and their families and his zest for life will be greatly missed. "Celebration of Life" luncheons will be held in both Honolulu and Virginia in the future. At a date yet to be determined, he will be interred in a private ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington D.C.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
