It is with great sadness that the family of Elston Shizuo Kitamori announces his passing on June 22, 2018, after a brave battle with cancer at the age of 60. He was born on February 14, 1958, Valentine's Day, in Honolulu. Elston was affectionately called "Papa" by his grandsons and "Big El" by friends. He was a kind and gentle person who loved spending time with family and many friends. He was a man of great faith who often shared his love of our Lord with others. In his youth, he was an accomplished athlete. As first baseman of the 1972 Hawaii Babe Ruth All Star team coached by Pal Eldredge, he was a member of the first team from the islands to win a Babe Ruth World Series Championship. Big El went on to become a scholar-athlete at `Iolani School, a first team all-star first baseman and first team all-state football player, and was also a member of the Cum Laude Society and a Senior Prefect. Elston then attended and graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He spent the next 27 years at American Savings Bank where he was Vice President of Technology Infrastructure Services. He continued his career at Central Pacific Bank, Aloha Shoyu and finally the State of Hawaii. He was a dedicated worker who had a big heart and equally big smile for everyone. He will lovingly be remembered and missed by Terri, his wife and best friend of 29 years. In their years together, they rarely spent a day apart. Elston and Terri were the love of each other's life. He met his sweetie when they both worked at American Savings Bank. Together they enjoyed traveling and volunteered for social causes related to youth empowerment. He was a tireless and selfless volunteer. He earned Volunteer of the Year honors from Hawaiian Electric Industries, having been nominated by Adult Friends for Youth and Friends of Foster Kids, for which he served as a board member. He was also a scout leader for both Pack 50 and Troop 50 of the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council for many years. Elston's grandsons were his heart and joy, and the pride of his life. His legacy for his grandsons was the bravery he showed through adversity, to be natural, and to be yourself. He also taught them to look for opportunities to make memories and remember the "Good Times." He opened a world of adventure for them, from fishing outings to elaborate pancake flipping and entertaining ways to pour honey on toast from up high. He also introduced a love for culture and the arts with visits to museums and plays. His love and influence will live on through them. His giving spirit and witty sense of humor never left him even in his final months. He was adored and loved by all who knew him, as shown by his many family and friends who visited at the hospital, emailed, texted or called him. He was at peace and in the presence of his loving family at his passing. Elston will be proudly remembered for his bravery during his illness and profoundly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Terri Martin Kitamori; step-daughter, Kailene Nihipali Sanchez (Kaniela); grandsons, Imaikalani Nihipali and Makai`o Nihipali; sister, Joy Kitamori Carpenter (Larry); and father-in-law, William Martin. He was preceded in death by parents, Mitsuo and Masako Kitamori; sister, Verna Kitamori; and mother-in-law, Gladys Gilding. Elston requested that no funeral service be held. But instead, may you spend time with family and friends, create memories and have your Good Times today. "The idea is not to live forever, it is to create something that will." - Andy Warhol Arrangements Provided By: Ultimate Cremation Services LLC
It is with great sadness that the family of Elston Shizuo Kitamori announces his passing on June 22, 2018, after a brave battle with cancer at the age of 60. He was born on February 14, 1958, Valentine's Day, in Honolulu. Elston was affectionately called "Papa" by his grandsons and "Big El" by friends. He was a kind and gentle person who loved spending time with family and many friends. He was a man of great faith who often shared his love of our Lord with others. In his youth, he was an accomplished athlete. As first baseman of the 1972 Hawaii Babe Ruth All Star team coached by Pal Eldredge, he was a member of the first team from the islands to win a Babe Ruth World Series Championship. Big El went on to become a scholar-athlete at `Iolani School, a first team all-star first baseman and first team all-state football player, and was also a member of the Cum Laude Society and a Senior Prefect. Elston then attended and graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He spent the next 27 years at American Savings Bank where he was Vice President of Technology Infrastructure Services. He continued his career at Central Pacific Bank, Aloha Shoyu and finally the State of Hawaii. He was a dedicated worker who had a big heart and equally big smile for everyone. He will lovingly be remembered and missed by Terri, his wife and best friend of 29 years. In their years together, they rarely spent a day apart. Elston and Terri were the love of each other's life. He met his sweetie when they both worked at American Savings Bank. Together they enjoyed traveling and volunteered for social causes related to youth empowerment. He was a tireless and selfless volunteer. He earned Volunteer of the Year honors from Hawaiian Electric Industries, having been nominated by Adult Friends for Youth and Friends of Foster Kids, for which he served as a board member. He was also a scout leader for both Pack 50 and Troop 50 of the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council for many years. Elston's grandsons were his heart and joy, and the pride of his life. His legacy for his grandsons was the bravery he showed through adversity, to be natural, and to be yourself. He also taught them to look for opportunities to make memories and remember the "Good Times." He opened a world of adventure for them, from fishing outings to elaborate pancake flipping and entertaining ways to pour honey on toast from up high. He also introduced a love for culture and the arts with visits to museums and plays. His love and influence will live on through them. His giving spirit and witty sense of humor never left him even in his final months. He was adored and loved by all who knew him, as shown by his many family and friends who visited at the hospital, emailed, texted or called him. He was at peace and in the presence of his loving family at his passing. Elston will be proudly remembered for his bravery during his illness and profoundly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Terri Martin Kitamori; step-daughter, Kailene Nihipali Sanchez (Kaniela); grandsons, Imaikalani Nihipali and Makai`o Nihipali; sister, Joy Kitamori Carpenter (Larry); and father-in-law, William Martin. He was preceded in death by parents, Mitsuo and Masako Kitamori; sister, Verna Kitamori; and mother-in-law, Gladys Gilding. Elston requested that no funeral service be held. But instead, may you spend time with family and friends, create memories and have your Good Times today. "The idea is not to live forever, it is to create something that will." - Andy Warhol Arrangements Provided By: Ultimate Cremation Services LLC
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
