Hawaii visitor industry pioneer, Rotarian, Hawaii Yacht Club Commodore, tennis champion, and Black Point neighborhood revitalizer, Walt Thorndike passed on the morning of Saturday, March 11th, 2023 at the age of 88. Born on August 26th, 1934 in Pasadena, California, Walter attended Flintridge Preparatory High School and Colorado College, where he met the love of his life and wife of 65 years, Suzanne Blair. After a brief stint in the San Francisco advertising industry, where he also served in the Army Reserves, he moved to Hawaii in 1963 to help form Hawaii's first advertising agency, Starr-McCombs. His accounts included what would become some of Hawaii's most iconic visitor destinations including Sea Life Park, Paradise Park, Waimea Valley, Halekulani, and the Surf Resorts, to name a few. In his later years, he maintained a boutique advertising agency, Thorndike & Associates, providing hands-on, personal service to many smaller clients. Walter was also an active Waikiki Rotarian, serving as president in 2001/2002, and spearheading the movement to improve and protect Diamond Head as a National Monument and visitor destination. A dedicated family man, he is predeceased by his wife Suzy, sister Grace Louise, brothers Alden and John, and his survived by his daughter, Paige Thorndike, and son, Blair Thorndike (Lisa Hutchinson). Services will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 2:00pm at Diamond Head Memorial Park's Garden of Peace, Ilima room. Arrangements Provided By: Diamond Head Mortuary
