Story courtesy of Mililani Memorial Park & Mortuary
Frederick Waichi Fujimoto, 92, of Mililani, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and granduncle, passed away on May 23. He was born on September 24, 1931, in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, and is survived by son Owen Fujimoto (Yuan-Sun); daughter Donna Fujimoto-Saka (Alan); and 4 grandchildren.
Fred was born during the Depression and grew up in Kalihi, the sixth of nine children. He graduated from CTAHR in 1953 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army. While he was stationed in Japan, he met the love of his life, Reiko Sawada. They married in March 1955 and had their son, Owen, later that year in December, followed by their daughter, Donna, four years later.
His career in the crop reporting service and as an agricultural Extension agent for CTAHR took Fred and his young family from Oʻahu in 1957 to Maui, back to O?ahu, then to Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, and finally back to Oʻahu, where he moved to Mililani in 1974 and lived for the rest of his life. After retiring in 1986, Fred established five UH scholarships. Four are in honor of the careers chosen by each member of his family: agriculture, music, engineering, and education. A fifth general scholarship honors his grandmother.
Private services were held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts (koden), family and friends may contribute toward the Fred Fujimoto Endowed Scholarship fund.