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As the eldest son, he took the role of "dad" to his siblings during the turbulent days of WW II, and provided support to the family when his father was taken away by the Justice Department and sent to New Mexico.
Following graduation from Hilo High School, he enrolled in the University of Hawaii's new School of Engineering and graduated as Salutatorian in the second class of Civil Engineering students. He was drafted after graduation and served with the U.S. Army.
He found employment with the State Dept. of Transportation after his military service and worked on the H-1 and H-3 projects. Although a civil engineer by profession, he made a conscious decision to dedicate the rest of his life to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha, and hence, while still in his mid-50's, he resigned his engineering job, and journeyed to Kyoto to study to become a Buddhist minister. After successfully concluding his studies in Kyoto, he returned to Hawaii, and served in temples on Oahu and the Big Island, and as Director of the Buddhist Study Center near UH Manoa, where he managed the construction of the new facility.
He lived a simple and humble life; "kind, gracious, compassionate, generous, always smiling", are just a few words used by many to describe his gentle personality. An empathetic person by nature, he counseled many families in their darkest hours including, providing comfort to Astronaut Ellison Onizuka's family after the tragic accident of the Space Shuttle, Challenger.
He is survived by his wife, Sumie; brothers, Dr. Herbert Marutani and Allen (Jean) Marutani; sister, Amy Kubota; and several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his sister Alice Terada (Harry). No Koden (monetary gifts).
Arrangements Provided By:
Hosoi Garden Mortuary
