Lawrence Sasaki

Lawrence Mitsuaki Sasaki, 81, of Florida, Ohio, died November 5, 2018 after a long illness. Larry Sasaki was born in Kealakekua, Hawaii on January 8, 1937 to Walter Hakaru and Elsie Fujine (Morikami) Sasaki. The family moved to the Ka’u Sugar Company Plantation when Larry was 100 days old. He attended Ka’u High School in Pahala, Hawaii. Larry achieved much success as an athlete in Hawaii, especially with baseball, football and wrestling. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America, eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Larry attended the University of Hawaii, Hilo Branch, and graduated from Ohio University in 1959 with a B.S in Education. He earned an M. S. in Education in 1964, also from Ohio University, and obtained his license in guidance counseling. While attending O.U., Larry was active in the fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE). Larry began his teaching career at Florida High School in 1959 as a science teacher. Larry had no family in Northwest Ohio at the time, but fortune smiled on Larry, and the young educator was taken in as a boarder by Mona and Julius Walter, Sr. of Florida, OH. The Walter family embraced the young man from Hawaii and eventually “adopted” the Sasaki family as part of their own. Larry added guidance counseling to his duties starting in 1965. In addition to science and counseling, Larry taught many Napoleon High School students how to drive in the NHS Drivers Education program. Later, he volunteered his time, giving evening counseling sessions to college-bound students and their parents. As a counselor he served on the Admissions Advisory Boards for the Ohio State University, The University of Toledo, and Miami University. Larry finished his career as a counselor at Napoleon High School in 1996 after 37 years in education. Larry coached baseball and basketball for the Florida High School Blue Jays and served as Varsity Baseball Coach for the Napoleon High School Wildcats for more than 30 years. He also coached Freshman Football and Wrestling during his tenure at NHS. Coach Sasaki was inducted into the Napoleon High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Larry was also active in the community. He and wife, Bonnie, worked to raise money for the United Way, and Larry served on the Henry County United Way Board. Larry also served on the Florida Village Water Board and sang in the St. Peter Lutheran Church Choir. Larry enjoyed fishing, golfing, baseball, and spending time with his friends and his three daughters. Out of a desire to provide an authentic Hawaiian experience for friends from Northwest Ohio, Larry organized the Sasaki Paradise Tours. Larry served as tour director and was able to share his love of the Hawaiian Islands with tour groups on several summer trips. Larry was beloved by students, faculty, family and friends for the stories he could tell and his generous “Aloha” spirit. Larry is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bonnie (Townsend) Sasaki of Florida, OH, and his three daughters, Laralyn Sasaki Dearing of Columbus, OH, Laryce (Samuel) McMurray of Sylvania, OH, and Larann (Glenn) Soffner of Napoleon, OH. Other surviving family members include his sister, Susan (John) Uliveto of Findlay, OH, two aunts, Margaret Sasaki Kihara of Kailua-Kona and Fumie (Nobuyuki) Sasaki of Kailua-Kona, and several beloved Hawaiian cousins and friends. Larry is also survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Diana (Townsend) Lilly of Warren, OH, two nieces, Heidi (Karl) Grimsley of Midlothian, VA and Jodi Merchant of Austintown, OH, and a nephew, David Andrew Lilly of Detroit, MI. Larry also leaves behind his loving “Ohana,” or extended family from the Napoleon area who made Larry part of their families and community, in particular the family of Meta Walter, the family of Marvin Michaelis, and his close teaching colleagues of the Napoleon area. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Hakaru and Fujine (Morikami) Sasaki, and a brother, Joji (George) Sasaki. The Sasaki family is very grateful for the love and support shown to Larry and the family throughout the last years of Larry’s illness. funeral services will be at 11a.m Thursday, November 8 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Florida, Ohio, with interment to follow at the Florida Cemetery in Florida, Ohio. Visitation hours are 2-7p.m. Wednesday, at Rodenberger Funeral Home in Napoleon, Ohio and one hour prior to the service at St. Peter’s. In lieu of flowers, please considering making a donation to one of the following charitable organizations: The Henry County Retired Teachers Foundation The Henry County Transportation Network St. Peter Lutheran Church, Florida, Ohio Online condolences may be made at www.rodenbergerfuneralhome.com

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Lawrence Sasaki

January 8, 1937 - November 5, 2018