Obituary of Rodney Kazuharu Minami

Rodney Kazuharu Minami passed from this life on March 29th, 2016, in Tucson, AZ. He was born in Waipahu, Township of Ewa, in what was then the Territory of Hawai'i. He was the seventh of ten children born to Kazue and Tsurue Minami. His Japanese heritage, combined with growing up in Hawai'i, significantly influenced him his entire life. Rod graduated from Iolani School in 1957; received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College in 1961; and, earned his Boston University Master of Science in Business Administration degree in 1975. Rod is survived by his wife, JoAn Stolley, and three grown children from a previous marriage to Sally Oshita. Julie Rae Minami and her husband, Jason Matsunami, reside in Pearl City, HI. Susan Mari Minami, and her husband, Stuart Pinho, along with their three children - Samantha, Shane and Spencer, reside in Waipahu, HI. Michael Kazuo Minami, and his wife, Denise Lee, along with their two children - Jake and Kaya, reside in Torrance, CA. Rod's Army enlistment began in 1962. He served as an Army Specialist E5 and was honorably discharged at Schofield Barracks, HI, in 1965. He then pursued a federal career that literally took him and his family around the world, including tours of duty in Japan, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Virginia, Honolulu, and Washington D.C. Rod retired from federal service in 1989, and then pursued a successful career with his Shiatsu massage practice in Annapolis, MD. The decision to move with JoAn to Tucson, AZ, for retirement was made in 2004. One of Rod's great pleasures was traveling throughout the world and sampling the world's cuisines. He also made a deliberate effort to visit all 50 states. Completed in 2014, Rod authored "The Musubi Chronicles" which details his life and personal recollections. His book can be viewed at www.Blurb.com, Bookstore, Biographies and Memoirs section. For example, as a child Rod witnessed the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. His life has also spanned other historically important national events. Rod did life in his own inevitable style of aloha as a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, colleague, and entrepreneur. Those closest to him will forever hold his spirit in their heart, recollecting his laughter, wonderful stories, and, almost always, wearing of a colorful aloha shirt and "slippahs". He will always be remembered as "The Samurai" within the extended 'ohanas that embraced him. Rod's final resting place will be the Byodo-In Temple, Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in Kaneohe, HI.