86, passed peacefully 10/23/18 @ Scott Farrar Assisted Living, Peterborough, NH, where he lived w/his wife, Alice. Jim remained positive & strong-mindedly independent despite burgeoning debility. Simple tasks like dressing took him 2 hrs, but he always showed "thumbs up" to family & staff. He "slipped" the day he passed, wouldn't say "fall". When staff came to help him from the floor, Jim said: "I called you all here for a meeting". His "can do" will and sense of humor guides his family towards aging w/grace & patience. Born 4/17/32, Honolulu, HI, Jim attended Mid-Pacific Institute w/the love & generous support of elder siblings Warren Nagahiro, Beatrice Mito, & Edna Hironaka, for which he was eternally grateful. Enlisting in the US Air Force, after 2yrs @ U of H, he was selected for the Aviation Cadet Program. A 30yr career in the AF was the hallmark of Jim's professional life. He navigated C-124s & piloted B-47 & B-52s. Equal family man & airman, Jim would say his extensive & successful career was made possible by the support of Alice. Her devotion to their family & crew families was vital. 1972, Jim flew B-52s from Anderson AFB, Guam. A fateful flight Dec 21, during Operation Line Backer II, resulted in shoot down. During time as POW @ the "Hanoi Hilton", & prior 2 months as MIA, Alice never lost faith he would come home. He returned in March, then while still serving his country, Jim completed his BA & MBA @ Gonzaga U, Spokane, WA, graduating Cum Laude in 2 1/2yrs. The last 6yrs of his AF career were spent in the AF Logistics Command. Retiring at the rank of Colonel, Dec 82, Jim followed his next calling becoming Chief Admin Officer for the Buddhist Churches of America, San Fran, CA. Jim & Alice retired '97 moving to Rindge, NH to be near beloved grandkids. They spent the next 20yrs logging countless hours & miles attending school events, gymnastics, dance, swim meets, soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, football, & lacrosse games. Often those teams were treated to Jim's homemade granola bars, jerky & dried apples. After family, Jim's 2nd & 3rd retirement passions were gardening & cooking. Family gatherings were his special pride, being enriched by his homegrown & home-cooked/baked meals. In 20yrs, this would be the first that his 1000 sqft garden lie fallow. Preceded in death by son Jon & son-in-law Steve, Jim is survived by wife of 63 yrs, Alice; daughters Ann & Lynn (Frank), son David (Ivy); grandsons Conrad, Frank, Sean & Seamus; granddaughters Sydney & Claire; and sister Edna. A private Buddhist ceremony will be held @ Lynn's home, Keene, NH. In future, Jim's ashes will be inurned at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI.
86, passed peacefully 10/23/18 @ Scott Farrar Assisted Living, Peterborough, NH, where he lived w/his wife, Alice. Jim remained positive & strong-mindedly independent despite burgeoning debility. Simple tasks like dressing took him 2 hrs, but he always showed "thumbs up" to family & staff. He "slipped" the day he passed, wouldn't say "fall". When staff came to help him from the floor, Jim said: "I called you all here for a meeting". His "can do" will and sense of humor guides his family towards aging w/grace & patience. Born 4/17/32, Honolulu, HI, Jim attended Mid-Pacific Institute w/the love & generous support of elder siblings Warren Nagahiro, Beatrice Mito, & Edna Hironaka, for which he was eternally grateful. Enlisting in the US Air Force, after 2yrs @ U of H, he was selected for the Aviation Cadet Program. A 30yr career in the AF was the hallmark of Jim's professional life. He navigated C-124s & piloted B-47 & B-52s. Equal family man & airman, Jim would say his extensive & successful career was made possible by the support of Alice. Her devotion to their family & crew families was vital. 1972, Jim flew B-52s from Anderson AFB, Guam. A fateful flight Dec 21, during Operation Line Backer II, resulted in shoot down. During time as POW @ the "Hanoi Hilton", & prior 2 months as MIA, Alice never lost faith he would come home. He returned in March, then while still serving his country, Jim completed his BA & MBA @ Gonzaga U, Spokane, WA, graduating Cum Laude in 2 1/2yrs. The last 6yrs of his AF career were spent in the AF Logistics Command. Retiring at the rank of Colonel, Dec 82, Jim followed his next calling becoming Chief Admin Officer for the Buddhist Churches of America, San Fran, CA. Jim & Alice retired '97 moving to Rindge, NH to be near beloved grandkids. They spent the next 20yrs logging countless hours & miles attending school events, gymnastics, dance, swim meets, soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, football, & lacrosse games. Often those teams were treated to Jim's homemade granola bars, jerky & dried apples. After family, Jim's 2nd & 3rd retirement passions were gardening & cooking. Family gatherings were his special pride, being enriched by his homegrown & home-cooked/baked meals. In 20yrs, this would be the first that his 1000 sqft garden lie fallow. Preceded in death by son Jon & son-in-law Steve, Jim is survived by wife of 63 yrs, Alice; daughters Ann & Lynn (Frank), son David (Ivy); grandsons Conrad, Frank, Sean & Seamus; granddaughters Sydney & Claire; and sister Edna. A private Buddhist ceremony will be held @ Lynn's home, Keene, NH. In future, Jim's ashes will be inurned at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
