Toshio Mitsunaga's Obituary
Toshio Mitsunaga was born to Shiro and Tetsu Mitsunaga
on January 21, 1932, on the island of Lanai in the Territory
of Hawaii. He was the last child of 5 siblings Masami,
Morio, Toshiko, and Tamotsu who all preceded him in
death.
Prior to his birth, his parents immigrated from Japan to
Hawaii in the early 1900’s for better economic
opportunities. They settled on Maui, Hawaii to work and
raise a family supporting the growing pineapple industry.
By 1926, his father was recruited by the Dole’s Hawaiian
Pineapple Company to work on Lana’i and establish
stables for horses and mules. They lived in simple
plantation labor housing camp where Toshio was born.
By the time he was ten, most of the youth had moved on
to the main town of Lana’i City including his siblings who
all were much older than him. He had to ride a bus 5
miles to school and back. At the early age of 11, he
started his mentorship with the island’s master machinery
and automotive mechanic. When he graduated from high
school, Toshio was a highly skilled machinist, welder, and
mechanic.
After high school at age of 18, he moved to Los Angeles,
CA to attend the National Trades School in a 3 year
program. Thanks to his training on Lana’i, Toshio was the
first person to meet all the requirements for graduation in
13 months. The trade school President recognized his
talent for innovation and recommended he help
automotive businesses in Los Angeles. With his help, he
taught those businesses to install, repair, and replace
automatic transmissions. But Toshio had many dreams to
fulfill and returned to Hawaii.
By 1951, he wanted to seek adventure in the Navy. Little
did he know he had actually enlisted in the U.S. Coast
Guard as a Seaman Recruit and placed in the ship
stewards program without a skills evaluation. People had
difficulty with his name so he adopted the nick name of
“Mitch”. On his first sea assignment, he noticed many
areas on the ship in need of repair. He would quietly
make repairs when needed until his efforts were noticed
by officers aboard the ship. After further evaluation by the
skilled chief machinist, they discovered that Toshio
possessed mastery skills in many trades needed by the
Coast Guard. He was quickly moved out of his career
field and placed in the machinist career field. While
serving a tour in Asia, Toshio met a young Japanese lady
named Haruko Shimohata, in Kumamoto, Japan. They
were married at the American Consulate in Fukuoka,
Japan in 1961. They spent the first 11 years of their
marriage in Japan, Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts
In 14 years, Toshio reached the rank of E-7, Chief Petty
Officer. Less than a year later, the Coast Guard needed
his talents as a technical leader and placed him in the
Warrant Officer Program as a Naval Engineer. In his 21
year career, he was recognized for two separate
innovative and unique engineering designs by the
Commandant of the Coast Guard and the U.S. Secretary
of Transportation. Choosing to remain as a Warrant
Officer Naval Engineering, he turned down an automatic
minority promotion to O-4, Lieutenant Commander, and
retired in 1972 while living in San Diego.
By the late 1970’s, Susan and Toshio continued to chase
their dreams. They permanently relocated to their dream
home and property on the outskirts of Escondido, CA.
Their goal together was to give back and help people for
the rest of their lives. Susan and Toshio accepted
Christianity in their lives and embraced their community
with passion.
Soon after retirement from the Coast Guard, Toshio
started working for the Sony Corporation in California as
an engineer. The Sony corporate leaders in Japan, would
often call on him to be the “go-between” spokes person
with the American Sony management team on corporate
goals and initiatives. He was very uncomfortable in that
role and just wanted to be a plant engineer. Again, after
attempts to promote him in to management, he remained
as a engineer until taking employment with the City of
Escondido as a Plant Maintenance Supervisor from
1981-1991.
“Mitch” had many more goals and places to take his
talents. While working, he went to night school and
obtained his Real Estate Sales License in 1991. By 1992,
he earned a Professional Certification in Refrigeration
Science Engineering. That same year he obtained a
California State Contracting License and established his
own HVAC business called “Mechanical Air & Heating
Service.” For the next several years he had service
contracts throughout the City of Los Angeles and San
Diego County.
Mitch remained active in the community and with the
Broadway Baptist Church as a Deacon. He was always
well respected as a soft spoken, kind and generous
person.
Toshio Mitsunaga remained a devoted husband for 64
years. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews
from California, Hawaii, and New Mexico
What’s your fondest memory of Toshio?
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