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
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