{"id":226127,"date":"2025-12-30T08:30:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T18:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=226127"},"modified":"2025-12-23T22:03:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T08:03:45","slug":"in-memoriam-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/12\/30\/in-memoriam-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 In Memoriam"},"content":{"rendered":"
Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Ti<\/p>\n

A number of the University of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span>\u2019s most respected educators, researchers, graduates and supporters passed in 2025. Here are their In Memoriam stories, in chronological order. Each one of them had a profound impact on the university, Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> and the world.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Marsella\"Trailblazing business leader, 东精影业<\/abbr> alum Richard Parsons<\/strong><\/a>
\nParsons became one of America\u2019s most prominent Black corporate executives, and led both Time Warner and Citigroup during critical periods. He returned to 东精影业<\/abbr> M\u0101noa as a commencement speaker and served as the Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals and was awarded a 东精影业<\/abbr> Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997 and a 东精影业<\/abbr> Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2003.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Casken\"Community health advocate, 东精影业PA<\/abbr> board member John Casken <\/strong><\/a>
\nCasken, chair and associate specialist of nursing and former director of international health at the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, will be remembered for his commitment to improving community health by influencing health policy and addressing health and social disparities in the state, particularly for rural communities across the islands and for Native Hawaiians.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Fiala\"Jeffrey Fiala, 东精影业<\/abbr> alumnus, firefighter and hero<\/strong><\/a>
\nFiala, who tragically lost his life on January 6, 2025, during a search and rescue operation at a two-story apartment fire, is remembered for his bravery and dedication to service, and was a beloved husband, son, brother, friend and colleague with a passion for fishing, photography and nature.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Robbs\"Don Robbs, the \u2018Voice of Rainbow Baseball\u2019<\/strong><\/a>
\nRobbs called more than 2,000 games during his legendary career and will be remembered for bringing to life some of the University of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> at M\u0101noa baseball program’s greatest moments, including the 1980 College World Series and all 13 of 东精影业<\/abbr>‘s NCAA<\/abbr> Tournament runs.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Curran\"Bobby Curran, iconic radio voice of 东精影业<\/abbr> Athletics<\/strong><\/a>
\nCurran called more than 400 football broadcasts, multiple bowl games, NCAA<\/abbr> Tournament appearances, and 东精影业<\/abbr> baseball, volleyball, and women’s basketball games. He hosted the “Bobby Curran Show” on KKEA<\/abbr> and was named Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> Sportscaster of the Year six times.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Estrin\"Garrett Estrin, former 东精影业<\/abbr> Hilo men\u2019s soccer coach<\/strong><\/a>
\nEstrin was named the program\u2019s eighth head coach in May 2022 and helped the Vulcans soccer programs begin a new era by leading the men’s team to a season-opening 2-1 victory over Cal Poly Humboldt on the brand-new turf Vulcan Soccer Field.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Howard\"Donna M. Howard, former 东精影业<\/abbr> Foundation president<\/strong><\/a>
\nHoward believed philanthropy was about trust and relationships. She listened to donors, understood their motivations and connected them with meaningful opportunities. She also energized alumni and business partnerships, while championing transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Eloise\"Eloise Luzader, cherished Gateway Caf\u00e9 head cashier<\/strong><\/a>
\nLuzader retired from Gateway House caf\u00e9 after nearly 30 years at age 95, and stated that the students her favorite part of her job. She viewed them as her grandbabies, effortlessly remembering the names of thousands of them and making them feel her care and aloha.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Morton\"John Morton, visionary leader of 东精影业<\/abbr> Community Colleges<\/strong><\/a>
\nMorton, whose innovative and strategic leadership and nearly five decades of service transformed the 东精影业<\/abbr> Community Colleges, championed educational access and equity, especially for underrepresented communities. He played a key role in supporting the Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> Promise scholarship program and the HINET<\/abbr> workforce and education support initiative.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Kelly\"Kevin Kelly, innovative community advocate<\/strong><\/a>
\nFor more than three decades, Kelly contributed his vision, leadership and good humor to marine technology, maritime security and research administration at 东精影业<\/abbr>. His work included business development, the management of large scientific grants, and liaising with legislative bodies and government agencies.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Sen\"Dais\u014dsh\u014d Genshitsu Tea Master Sen, 5th generation tea icon\u2019s lasting 东精影业<\/abbr> legacy<\/strong><\/a>
\nSen shared bowls of tea with presidents, royalty, and everyday people, always as an offering of peace. His connection to 东精影业<\/abbr> M\u0101noa stretched across more than seven decades, shaping a legacy of culture and learning.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

\"Dykstra\"CC<\/abbr> Chancellor Douglas Dykstra<\/strong><\/a>
\nKnown for his warmth, humor and deep compassion, Dykstra led Windward CC<\/abbr> from 2009 until his retirement in 2018, shaping the campus into a vibrant college serving the Windward region and beyond. Colleagues often described him as a \u201cgentleman giant,\u201d one who could be both a soft-hearted listener and a strong, decisive leader when needed.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][\/vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]\n

东精影业<\/abbr> News 2025 recap<\/h2>\n

10 top 东精影业<\/abbr> News stories 2025<\/a>
10 top 东精影业<\/abbr> M\u0101noa stories 2025<\/a>
Top stories from each 东精影业<\/abbr> campus 2025<\/a>
10 top 东精影业<\/abbr> leadership stories 2025<\/a>
东精影业<\/abbr> News \u02bb\u014clelo of the Week 2025<\/a>
东精影业<\/abbr> Images of the Week 2025<\/a>
In Memoriam 2025<\/a><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A number of the University of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span>\u2019s most respected educators, researchers, graduates and supporters passed in 2025. Here are their In Memoriam stories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":139709,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[61,62,756,63,64,65,71,14,9,60,947,59,66],"class_list":["post-226127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-in-memoriam","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-system","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/manoa-gnrc-ti-plant.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=226127"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":227572,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226127\/revisions\/227572"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=226127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=226127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=226127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}