Marie Sugita was born on July 11, 1937 to Itsuki and Ayako Matsukado of Kurtistown, Hawaii. She was the second child and eldest daughter of four children. Marie attended grade school at Ola'a (now Kea'au) and graduated from Hilo High School. She continued her education at the University of Hawaii at Hilo where during a brief hospital stay she was visited by and first met Tom. Marie later enrolled at UH at Manoa where she earned her Bachelor's Degree and completed a 5th year of studies in Education. Tom and Marie were married on June 20, 1958 and had Karen shortly thereafter. Marie began her teaching career at Kaimuki Intermediate School. She also taught at Kawananakoa and Waimanalo Intermediate Schools. Tom and Marie had their second daughter, Joy, and bought their current home in Pacific Palisades in 1966. Marie continued to teach science for many years at Highlands Intermediate School in Pearl City. Joy follows in her footsteps as a high school science teacher in California. Marie took early retirement after a 32 year teaching career helping to raise Ryan, Ross and Brent, her 3 grandsons and their pomeranians, Shawn, Kawika and Noa. She also visited Mia, her granddaughter, in California and accompanied Tom on many trips to Las Vegas. Tom and Marie also visited Washington D.C., New York, Canada, Japan, and Thailand. Marie led a quiet life and was described as a quiet type of person by her fellow teachers. She did whatever mom's do -- supporting and caring for her husband of 63+ years, children, and grandchildren in whatever way she could. We will miss her pleasant demeanor and constant smile. She passed away quietly, just as she lived, on December 17, 2021 at Pali Momi Medical Center. In accordance with her wishes, Marie donated her body to the UH Medical School. Her ashes were scattered at sea completing her life long service to the pursuit of science. Marie Sugita is survived by her husband Tom, brother Louis (Gail) Matsukado, sisters Irene (Michael) Kanno and Florence (Calvin) Matsumura, daughters Karen (Randal) Furomoto and Joy Cruz, and four grandchildren - Ryan, Ross, and Brent Furomoto and Mia Cruz. Private memorial service was held on December 27, 2021.
Marie Sugita was born on July 11, 1937 to Itsuki and Ayako Matsukado of Kurtistown, Hawaii. She was the second child and eldest daughter of four children. Marie attended grade school at Ola'a (now Kea'au) and graduated from Hilo High School. She continued her education at the University of Hawaii at Hilo where during a brief hospital stay she was visited by and first met Tom. Marie later enrolled at UH at Manoa where she earned her Bachelor's Degree and completed a 5th year of studies in Education. Tom and Marie were married on June 20, 1958 and had Karen shortly thereafter. Marie began her teaching career at Kaimuki Intermediate School. She also taught at Kawananakoa and Waimanalo Intermediate Schools. Tom and Marie had their second daughter, Joy, and bought their current home in Pacific Palisades in 1966. Marie continued to teach science for many years at Highlands Intermediate School in Pearl City. Joy follows in her footsteps as a high school science teacher in California. Marie took early retirement after a 32 year teaching career helping to raise Ryan, Ross and Brent, her 3 grandsons and their pomeranians, Shawn, Kawika and Noa. She also visited Mia, her granddaughter, in California and accompanied Tom on many trips to Las Vegas. Tom and Marie also visited Washington D.C., New York, Canada, Japan, and Thailand. Marie led a quiet life and was described as a quiet type of person by her fellow teachers. She did whatever mom's do -- supporting and caring for her husband of 63+ years, children, and grandchildren in whatever way she could. We will miss her pleasant demeanor and constant smile. She passed away quietly, just as she lived, on December 17, 2021 at Pali Momi Medical Center. In accordance with her wishes, Marie donated her body to the UH Medical School. Her ashes were scattered at sea completing her life long service to the pursuit of science. Marie Sugita is survived by her husband Tom, brother Louis (Gail) Matsukado, sisters Irene (Michael) Kanno and Florence (Calvin) Matsumura, daughters Karen (Randal) Furomoto and Joy Cruz, and four grandchildren - Ryan, Ross, and Brent Furomoto and Mia Cruz. Private memorial service was held on December 27, 2021.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
