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Sachiko Oyama Takeuchi, who spent three decades as a career federal civil servant working in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, passed away peacefully at home on September 14. She was 92. The oldest of four children born in Honolulu to Yukio and Shizue Oyama, Sachi was born on January 2, 1927. She attended Kalakaua School, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in the class of 1945. The first in her family to attend college, Sachi graduated from the University of Hawaii as a dental hygienist in 1949. She joined the Territory of Hawaii's public health service, traveling to public schools to provide dental care to students. She was working on Maui when she met Clarence E. Takeuchi. They married in December 1952 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin in Honolulu. The young couple was soon preparing for a move that shaped the rest of their lives. By April 1953, they were on Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands, then part of the U.S.-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Unlike most expatriates of that time, Sachi chose to deliver her sons Floyd and Gary at the Majuro Hospital, in a couple of Quonset huts left by the U.S. Navy after World War II, under the care of Marshallese doctors and nurses. On Majuro, Sachi quickly found work as secretary to the District Administrator. In 1960, the family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where Clarence earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University. Sachi, meanwhile, managed a dental office. The lure of the islands proved strong, and the family in 1964 returned to Micronesia, moving to Saipan, which had become Trust Territory headquarters. Over the next 18 years, Sachi moved from secretary to the Trust Territory director of education to deputy director of personnel for the Micronesia region. In 1983, Sachi and Clarence retired from federal service and moved to Hawaii. Sachi was happy in retirement, becoming more engaged in her large extended family for the first time in three decades. As the oldest child among her siblings and many cousins, Sachi helped to raise her sister and two brothers, and many of those cousins. In retirement, she got to know her nieces and nephews and their children, and her cousins' children. But most of her and Clarence's attention was focused on their grandson, Kai Takeuchi. Sachi was known for her homemade mango chutney, fruitcakes, and caramel popcorn during the holidays. She kept up the tradition until age began to slow her down. Sachi lived a long and rich life. Sachi was predeceased by her parents, sister Grace Oyama, and her lifelong partner in adventure, Clarence. She is surived by sons Floyd (Kris Tanahara) and Gary (JoAnn Uchida) and grandson Kai; brothers Harry (Jane) Oyama and Col. Robert (Elsie) Oyama, USAF ret., many nieces and nephews; and scores of friends and colleagues who knew Sachi and Clarence in the Marshall Islands; Baltimore, Maryland; and on Saipan. A Memorial service will be held on October 15 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary at 6 p.m. Visitation from 5 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Refreshments to follow. Private interment at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary
Sachiko Oyama Takeuchi, who spent three decades as a career federal civil servant working in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, passed away peacefully at home on September 14. She was 92. The oldest of four children born in Honolulu to Yukio and Shizue Oyama, Sachi was born on January 2, 1927. She attended Kalakaua School, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in the class of 1945. The first in her family to attend college, Sachi graduated from the University of Hawaii as a dental hygienist in 1949. She joined the Territory of Hawaii's public health service, traveling to public schools to provide dental care to students. She was working on Maui when she met Clarence E. Takeuchi. They married in December 1952 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin in Honolulu. The young couple was soon preparing for a move that shaped the rest of their lives. By April 1953, they were on Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands, then part of the U.S.-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Unlike most expatriates of that time, Sachi chose to deliver her sons Floyd and Gary at the Majuro Hospital, in a couple of Quonset huts left by the U.S. Navy after World War II, under the care of Marshallese doctors and nurses. On Majuro, Sachi quickly found work as secretary to the District Administrator. In 1960, the family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where Clarence earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University. Sachi, meanwhile, managed a dental office. The lure of the islands proved strong, and the family in 1964 returned to Micronesia, moving to Saipan, which had become Trust Territory headquarters. Over the next 18 years, Sachi moved from secretary to the Trust Territory director of education to deputy director of personnel for the Micronesia region. In 1983, Sachi and Clarence retired from federal service and moved to Hawaii. Sachi was happy in retirement, becoming more engaged in her large extended family for the first time in three decades. As the oldest child among her siblings and many cousins, Sachi helped to raise her sister and two brothers, and many of those cousins. In retirement, she got to know her nieces and nephews and their children, and her cousins' children. But most of her and Clarence's attention was focused on their grandson, Kai Takeuchi. Sachi was known for her homemade mango chutney, fruitcakes, and caramel popcorn during the holidays. She kept up the tradition until age began to slow her down. Sachi lived a long and rich life. Sachi was predeceased by her parents, sister Grace Oyama, and her lifelong partner in adventure, Clarence. She is surived by sons Floyd (Kris Tanahara) and Gary (JoAnn Uchida) and grandson Kai; brothers Harry (Jane) Oyama and Col. Robert (Elsie) Oyama, USAF ret., many nieces and nephews; and scores of friends and colleagues who knew Sachi and Clarence in the Marshall Islands; Baltimore, Maryland; and on Saipan. A Memorial service will be held on October 15 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary at 6 p.m. Visitation from 5 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Refreshments to follow. Private interment at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
