Roy Yoshiharu Takeyama passed away peacefully at home on April 1, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. He was 89 years old. Roy was born on January 25, 1928 in Puunene, Maui. He graduated from Baldwin High School and enlisted in the US Army where he served in Japan and contributed to the reconstruction effort after the war. After the Army, he attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and earned a B.S. in Business Administration followed by a Masters in Education from the University of Illinois in 1952. After graduating, he moved home to teach on Kauai, and there he met his future wife Hilda. They eventually moved back to Honolulu and enjoyed a wonderful marriage for 60 years. In 1959 Roy and his family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan as he pursued a degree in law at the University of Michigan. He received his Juris Doctor in 1962 and returned to Honolulu where he served as a law clerk at the Hawaii Supreme Court, then as the Deputy Attorney General for the State of Hawaii from 1962-1967 before subsequently establishing his private land-use law practice. Roy was always passionate about education; in 1968 he became the Special Assistant to the President of the University of Hawaii and from 1970-1980 worked part-time as Secretary to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii. In 1999 he established the Roy and Hilda Takeyama Foundation to support education. After retiring, Roy continued to faithfully come to the office every day - he surrounded himself with young people and lived each day with an open mind, generous heart, and an afternoon nap. Roy lived life to its fullest. He would religiously go to yoga class three times a week, and developed a reputation of having the best "crow" position in class. He continued to golf and enjoyed the company of friends and travelling to faraway places. Above all, Roy cherished his family; he loved "Monday night dinners" where the entire family would congregate after work at his house to surf, then to enjoy the best meal of the week from Hilda. Roy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He always brought life, wit and humor to the party and he never failed to put a smile on your face. He was loved and respected by many and serves as an inspiration for a life well lived. "Roy - we will miss you dearly, but you will always be in our hearts." Roy is survived by his loving wife Hilda Takeyama; daughter, Jan Sullivan, her husband Patrick and grandchildren Matthew and Tarah; son, David Takeyama and his wife Melissa and grandchildren Ethan and Noa. There will be a memorial service at Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd.; Visitation: 4:00p.m.; Service: 5:00p.m. followed by 6:30 p.m. dinner at Waialae Country Club, aloha attire. Friends and family are all warmly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers or donations, contributions may be made in Roy's memory to the Roy and Hilda Takeyama Foundation.
Roy Yoshiharu Takeyama passed away peacefully at home on April 1, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. He was 89 years old. Roy was born on January 25, 1928 in Puunene, Maui. He graduated from Baldwin High School and enlisted in the US Army where he served in Japan and contributed to the reconstruction effort after the war. After the Army, he attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and earned a B.S. in Business Administration followed by a Masters in Education from the University of Illinois in 1952. After graduating, he moved home to teach on Kauai, and there he met his future wife Hilda. They eventually moved back to Honolulu and enjoyed a wonderful marriage for 60 years. In 1959 Roy and his family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan as he pursued a degree in law at the University of Michigan. He received his Juris Doctor in 1962 and returned to Honolulu where he served as a law clerk at the Hawaii Supreme Court, then as the Deputy Attorney General for the State of Hawaii from 1962-1967 before subsequently establishing his private land-use law practice. Roy was always passionate about education; in 1968 he became the Special Assistant to the President of the University of Hawaii and from 1970-1980 worked part-time as Secretary to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii. In 1999 he established the Roy and Hilda Takeyama Foundation to support education. After retiring, Roy continued to faithfully come to the office every day - he surrounded himself with young people and lived each day with an open mind, generous heart, and an afternoon nap. Roy lived life to its fullest. He would religiously go to yoga class three times a week, and developed a reputation of having the best "crow" position in class. He continued to golf and enjoyed the company of friends and travelling to faraway places. Above all, Roy cherished his family; he loved "Monday night dinners" where the entire family would congregate after work at his house to surf, then to enjoy the best meal of the week from Hilda. Roy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He always brought life, wit and humor to the party and he never failed to put a smile on your face. He was loved and respected by many and serves as an inspiration for a life well lived. "Roy - we will miss you dearly, but you will always be in our hearts." Roy is survived by his loving wife Hilda Takeyama; daughter, Jan Sullivan, her husband Patrick and grandchildren Matthew and Tarah; son, David Takeyama and his wife Melissa and grandchildren Ethan and Noa. There will be a memorial service at Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd.; Visitation: 4:00p.m.; Service: 5:00p.m. followed by 6:30 p.m. dinner at Waialae Country Club, aloha attire. Friends and family are all warmly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers or donations, contributions may be made in Roy's memory to the Roy and Hilda Takeyama Foundation.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
