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We celebrate the life of Thomas Michael Masterson, who passed away at his home in Ko'olaupoko on September 18, 2017. He was born in El Segundo, California, on May 29, 1946 to Lois Hinton and Jack Ryder. He was the eldest of eight siblings who grew up in California with his mom and adopted father, Robert 'Bat' Masterson, whose sense of adventure Tom seems to have adopted into his own life. Tom graduated from Pomona High School, and after studying in Mexico and the Philippines, received a Bachelor's Degree from Louis and Clark College, where he was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame for running the Decathlon at the 1968 Olympic Trials! Tom later received a Master's Degree in International Affairs at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. A taste of the adventure that was to follow Tom through his life and career occurred in 1967. While serving on a Merchant Marine vessel working his way from the Philippines back to the States, he survived an attempt to deliver cargo up the Mekong River during the conflict in Vietnam, only to become stranded for months in the Suez Canal during June 1967's Six Day War between Egypt and Israel! As an American ex-pat living abroad, Tom had a dynamic career of successfully starting and building a diversity of global and domestic businesses in a broad range of industries from corporate banking, alternative energy, steel manufacturing, corporate identity and branding, to executive search and business consulting. He was involved in efforts to improve the environment by using co-generation to produce electricity in the U.S. and Europe. He travelled extensively in South East Asia and the world, positively impacting the communities he lived in, Texas, California, New York, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy and Hawaii. He gained international recognition for spearheading efforts of the Living Islands Movement, successfully stopping the Hong Kong Super Prison from being built on Lantau Island and introducing ecotourism-based activities. He had a passion for life and a drive to make the world a better place. Tom came to Hawai'i in 2004, where he worked selling real estate and developing health care franchising before joining Nakoa Industries, serving as Vice-President of Market Development for the Native Hawaiian construction company. He also enjoyed taking people to the Mokulua Islands as a kayak adventure guide, when he was not playing tennis with friends! Truly, Tom's commitment and dedication were to his Ko'olau community, where he became a Windward Community College Ambassador with his beloved life-partner Waynella McNeil, stood as Vice-Chairman of Hui Kawainui-Kailua Ka Wai Ola, actively engaged with several Chambers of Commerce groups, and was a member of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club activities, and served as a board member for Hawai`i Maoli. Most important was his love for the sea. He sailed regularly as a member of the Waikiki Yacht Club and paddled with Kai Oni then Nakoalani Canoe Clubs, where he enjoyed evenings paddling in the waters off Kane'ohe Bay. 'Bamps' was a loving grandfather, father, and partner; our Kailono is survived by his sweetheart Waynella (Wailana); mother Lois; five of his siblings, Bob, Rick, Ron, Jim, and Mindy; his four children, Ian, Bryce, Siri, and Trevor; and his five grandchildren, Madeira, Finn, Lana, Orion, and Sunny. He was gentle, kind, fun, and fiercely passionate towards all that is good, right, and equitablepono. Tom was full of aloha for the world, truly an international man of mystery whose smile will be missed by everyone. Tom's Celebration of Life will be held at Kailua Beach, Nov. 3, 10:00am. Afterward, a paddle-out will occur to return his earthly body to the ocean, thus joining his soul with all of us who knew him. Lunch will be served following the gathering on the sea. Please send donations to the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club in lieu of flowers. Follow Tom's Caring Bridge website for more information and to share stories about his life: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tominparadise Tom says mahalo and aloha to all!
We celebrate the life of Thomas Michael Masterson, who passed away at his home in Ko'olaupoko on September 18, 2017. He was born in El Segundo, California, on May 29, 1946 to Lois Hinton and Jack Ryder. He was the eldest of eight siblings who grew up in California with his mom and adopted father, Robert 'Bat' Masterson, whose sense of adventure Tom seems to have adopted into his own life. Tom graduated from Pomona High School, and after studying in Mexico and the Philippines, received a Bachelor's Degree from Louis and Clark College, where he was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame for running the Decathlon at the 1968 Olympic Trials! Tom later received a Master's Degree in International Affairs at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. A taste of the adventure that was to follow Tom through his life and career occurred in 1967. While serving on a Merchant Marine vessel working his way from the Philippines back to the States, he survived an attempt to deliver cargo up the Mekong River during the conflict in Vietnam, only to become stranded for months in the Suez Canal during June 1967's Six Day War between Egypt and Israel! As an American ex-pat living abroad, Tom had a dynamic career of successfully starting and building a diversity of global and domestic businesses in a broad range of industries from corporate banking, alternative energy, steel manufacturing, corporate identity and branding, to executive search and business consulting. He was involved in efforts to improve the environment by using co-generation to produce electricity in the U.S. and Europe. He travelled extensively in South East Asia and the world, positively impacting the communities he lived in, Texas, California, New York, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy and Hawaii. He gained international recognition for spearheading efforts of the Living Islands Movement, successfully stopping the Hong Kong Super Prison from being built on Lantau Island and introducing ecotourism-based activities. He had a passion for life and a drive to make the world a better place. Tom came to Hawai'i in 2004, where he worked selling real estate and developing health care franchising before joining Nakoa Industries, serving as Vice-President of Market Development for the Native Hawaiian construction company. He also enjoyed taking people to the Mokulua Islands as a kayak adventure guide, when he was not playing tennis with friends! Truly, Tom's commitment and dedication were to his Ko'olau community, where he became a Windward Community College Ambassador with his beloved life-partner Waynella McNeil, stood as Vice-Chairman of Hui Kawainui-Kailua Ka Wai Ola, actively engaged with several Chambers of Commerce groups, and was a member of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club activities, and served as a board member for Hawai`i Maoli. Most important was his love for the sea. He sailed regularly as a member of the Waikiki Yacht Club and paddled with Kai Oni then Nakoalani Canoe Clubs, where he enjoyed evenings paddling in the waters off Kane'ohe Bay. 'Bamps' was a loving grandfather, father, and partner; our Kailono is survived by his sweetheart Waynella (Wailana); mother Lois; five of his siblings, Bob, Rick, Ron, Jim, and Mindy; his four children, Ian, Bryce, Siri, and Trevor; and his five grandchildren, Madeira, Finn, Lana, Orion, and Sunny. He was gentle, kind, fun, and fiercely passionate towards all that is good, right, and equitablepono. Tom was full of aloha for the world, truly an international man of mystery whose smile will be missed by everyone. Tom's Celebration of Life will be held at Kailua Beach, Nov. 3, 10:00am. Afterward, a paddle-out will occur to return his earthly body to the ocean, thus joining his soul with all of us who knew him. Lunch will be served following the gathering on the sea. Please send donations to the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club in lieu of flowers. Follow Tom's Caring Bridge website for more information and to share stories about his life: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tominparadise Tom says mahalo and aloha to all!
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
