By Born on May 22, 1919, my dad would have been 98 today!
For the benefit of my future grandchildren (sorry for being such a sap but one of the reasons I created this blog was so that my grandchildren could learn more about me and the Ito clan), your great grandfather was an amazing man! Your mom and aunt will tell you all about him as they had the privilege of knowing him. He was born in Kurtistown on the Big Island of Hawai’i. He was one of six children born to Itaro and Harumi Ito. A graduate of the University of Hawai’i, he served as a Military Intelligence Officer during World War II and was an interpreter during the war crime trial of General Yamashita (the Tiger of Manilla). After the war, he attended dental school at the University of Kansas City and, upon graduation, joined his brothers Takeshi, Yoshio and Setsuo (all dentists) in Denver. He married my mom on February 1, 1959 and they were married for 52 years before he died on January 12, 2012 at the age of 92.
I had the privilege of calling him “dad.” He was my mentor, hero and role model. Because of him, I am a better person and, importantly, a better dad. I miss him every single day and not a day goes by that I do not think about him.
I love you, dad! Happy Birthday!!
PETE'S JOURNAL 