Stanley K. Yamashita 1940-2011

Stanley Kiyoshi Yamashita was born in Ola‘a, Hawai‘i on December 24, 1940, the third child and first son of Tameo and Midori Yamashita. He attended Ola‘a School from kindergarten to 9th grade and matriculated to Hilo High School where he graduated in 1958. He attended the University of Hawai‘i, Hilo Campus (now the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo) for two years before moving to Honolulu to continue his education at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa where he earned a BA in English in 1962.

Stanley knew at an early age that he would be a journalist, and he began his long career while in high school where he worked on the school newspaper and was editor in his senior year. He also wrote for the Hilo Tribune-Herald (now the Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald) as a community reporter for Kea’au, Kurtistown, and surrounding areas while he was in high school and UH Hilo. He was on the staff of Ka Leo, the student newspaper, at UH Manoa and was editor-in-chief during his senior year. He had also been a student intern at the Honolulu Advertiser while enrolled at UH Manoa and was hired upon his graduation in 1962. Stanley worked at the Advertiser for his entire professional career except when he served in the U.S. Army from 1964-65 after being drafted. He worked on the Stars and Stripes during his military service and also received a letter of commendation as editor of the Fort Stewart Salute when he was stationed there. He was a copy editor at the Advertiser when he retired in 2006.

He was diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) shortly after his retirement and his health steadily declined in subsequent years. He was hospitalized on September 27, 2011 (initially at Straub Hospital for one night) and passed away at Kaiser Medical Center at Moanalua on October 22, 2011. Stanley was inurned on November 22, 2011 at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). His survivors sincerely appreciate the efforts, care, and compassion of the physicians, nurses, and staff of Kaiser Permanente and Straub.

Stanley is survived by his siblings Jennie T. Yamashita of Honolulu; Eleanor Y. Meyer (husband Jon) of Timonium, MD; Marie Y. Okamura (husband Clarence) of Kailua; and Glenn T. Yamashita of Honolulu; and by his companion Derral R. Herbst of Hawai‘i Kai. He is also survived by nieces Anne Hong (husband Steven) of Honolulu; Sara Okamura of Kailua; Karen Yamada (husband Deron) of Pasadena, CA; and Laura Meyer Ro (husband Richard) of Raleigh, NC; and nephew David Meyer of Iowa City, IA.

At The Advertiser