Richard Iga
Nov 6, 1930 - Nov 10, 2023

Board Member
Investor

@carigacariga Do you know your 18x table?

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A Tribute to Richard

Richard Mitsugi Iga was born in Hilo, Hawaii on November 6, 1930, the third out of 8 children:  Albert, May, Richard, Doreen, Ronald, Mildred, Harrison, and Nelson.

His father who was a very stern and often unreasonable man taught him to play baseball at a young age, giving him a platform for success in sports which he eventually excelled in judo, tennis, golf, bowling, and running.  He carried the nickname “Prof” in the 7th grade because he said he was good at grammar.  

Because he grew up in a very poor household, he determined that he wanted to pursue financial security and stability when he grew up and so he went straight to working for Hawaiian Electric after graduating high school in order to earn money for more school, however 3 years later, in 1951, Dad was drafted into the army, an event that took him to Fort Leonard Wood, MO and then to the atomic testing ground s of Eniwetok where he was soon bumped up to Corporal and flew regularly to neighboring islands making deliveries and conducting business.  

For his service during the Korean War, he was rewarded free tuition to the University of Hawaii where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 3 years (1960) and eventually a masters degree in math (1970).  In between degrees, Richard met and married Reiko Nishimura in 1963.  After their first child’s death at childbirth (1965), they had their second daughter Carolyn (1966) and son Kevin (1970).    

Richard has always assumed a disarmingly gentle personality, telling silly jokes to his general math classes, which made him very popular amongst the typically thuggish and unruly Samoan kids whom he taught at the notoriously rowdy Farrington High School.  After work he usually ran home over a distance of 5 miles, then took to the golf course with friends.  

Although generous and not particularly good at saving money, Richard seemed to earn funds easily with his and my mom’s property and stock investments, allowing them to thrive and transition into a rich life of travel and personal growth after retiring and launching their kids Carolyn and Kevin into their adult lives on the mainland.  

Dad began nurturing his love for writing and together with my mom joined the Hiroshima club, a Japanese heritage club.  Some of his reflections were submitted and published by the club and is enclosed in this folder, and which my brother will read.

As a math teacher one of his greatest pride and joys was seeing his son Kevin graduate from the prestigious MIT, and even though Kevin went on to earn more prestigious degrees and gain a professorial position, it was this one fact that Richard always made sure to mention to all the new friends he made.  

In 1998 Dad received radiation treatment for prostate cancer which prompted him to seek spiritual answers.  He began attending a small group study on Encountering God at New Hope Church which met at the high school where he taught.  He would choose to be baptized several years later in 2003.  

Richard and Reiko decided to move to Friendly Valley in Newhall, California in 2000 to be near their children, and although the housing market in Honolulu was was a sellers market, promising big gains, they chose to sell their home near a prestigious school at a very modest price based on their principle of wanting to bless and help a young family succeed.  They continued traveling together, golfing, and growing in new areas of interest.  

In 2007 when their daughter had a chance to purchase a music store, Richard and Reiko excitedly encouraged her to do so, jumping onboard by showing up unexpectedly on her first day, and helping her to stock the supplies necessary to run a business, and and helping her get organized to serve the public.   Richard and Reiko would spend years investing their time and financial support to the business; Richard would get to know the neighboring businesses and learn about the latest gossip while Reiko would help with the finances.  Humble in nature, Richard would grab a broom and start sweeping the parking lot, only to find people mistook him to be the property owner.  

Over the family dinners and worldwide travels, Richard would always stop to tell jokes to anyone he came in contact with including waiters, service personnel, tour guides and taxi drivers.  When he started forgetting how the jokes went he would type them out and hand it to us during our gatherings.

Dad leaves a legacy as a peacemaker.  His unassuming personality disarmed people and made him a very likable person.  A pastor once asked the congregation of about 100 members to think of the smartest person they knew.  A church member yelled, “Richard Iga.”  We all laughed at his retelling of this story because although very smart, his genius lay in his ability to honor people and make them feel at ease around him.

Dad knew how to create a nurturing environment with his care for plants, and his acceptance of animals, even bugs and ant infestations in their kitchen. He brought luck and fortune by virtue of surrendering his need for expensive things, and by caring for the person in front of him.  He was unpretentious, kind, generous, and proud of nothing except his family and his son who got into MIT.

I told Dad not to pass on before I finished his life history, and got out of bed after taking a long nap from 6-10pm November 9, and finished it.  

I then lay my hand on his chest as his breathing became belabored, 

and told him to please feel free to go if he felt like he was ready.  

I had read a personalized version of Psalm 139 to him earlier that day and told him I would love to walk him to the gates but couldn’t pass through with him until it was my time.  

I gave him his pain meds which were supposed to calm him.  Instead I heard his breathing escalate.  

I went back to bed deciding not to medicate him more.

In the morning his face had changed to a paler color.  Mom and I kept our online appointments.  At 9:54am Carol our caregiver told mom she thinks my dad passed.  It was confirmed by our hospice nurse at 10:36am.  

Thank you Dad for your legacy.  (by Carolyn Iga)

@carigacariga My dad got his wish for his 91st birthday.#dadsoftiktok 

@carigacariga #dadsoftiktok #90yearoldman #90yearsold #heroes #mydaddyismyhero #mydad @reomits ♬ original sound - Carolyn Iga