Charles Masayoshi Naguwa

Charles Masayoshi Naguwa “Chuck”, "Uncle Charlie", 92, of Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, passed away August 17, 2024 after a serious fall leading to a Traumatic Brain Injury. Born in Hilo, Hawaii, Charles graduated from Hilo High school in 1948 and earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952-54 before earning his Master’s in Labor and Management from the University of Iowa in 1956. Charles worked as an accountant at Brunswick Corporation in Skokie, IL for over 33 years. He was honored by the company for his faithful and loyal service. After a long, successful career, he retired in 1994. After retirement, he saw a newspaper article about the Cambodian Association in Chicago needing tutors. His love of helping others began. Charles started volunteering in 1994 and accumulated more than 2,100 hours. He taught advanced ESL and citizenship classes and often accompanied his students to their exams for additional support. As a child of Japanese immigrants, Charles had a deep sensitivity to the struggles his students faced as newcomers to America. His spirit of community and willingness to share his gifts of knowledge, care and time and the deep desire to give back fulfilled his heart's desire. For 10 years, he volunteered at the Chinese Mutual Aid Association and received many awards and recognitions for his exemplary service and dedication to helping students. Charles was very strongly independent, proper, kind, caring, thoughtful, intelligent, and witty with a dry sense of humor. He created his life at the Malibu condominium since 1976 and enjoyed his life cultivated with rich, wonderful and beautiful friendships. He enjoyed the Lyric Opera and for many years attended the Summer Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts in Grant Park with his dear friends. Favorite pastimes included completing the daily crossword puzzle in the Chicago Tribune and acting as a barista and drinking coffee with his special neighbors. He surrounded himself with the beauty of nature and had an eye for particularly Japanese design. In his younger years, he enjoyed traveling abroad to Paris, London, Italy, and was fortunate to have made several trips to Japan, his favorite place to visit. Over his lifetime, Charles spent holidays and New Years with family in California or Hawaii and his time there was focused on partaking in the scrumptious food. His first stop after landing was always for an In-and-Out cheeseburger. He looked forward to the feasting and especially partaking of traditional home cooked Japanese New Years dishes. Cruising to Mexico and Alaska with his niece and dear friend were his last enjoyable trips and he thoroughly enjoyed the total luxurious indulgences and once again feasting experience. Charles did everything possible to maintain his independence into his 90’s. He proudly walked daily, often taking 12,000 steps and maintained a healthy diet and lifestyle. On special occasions, he gave in to his love for his chocolate and sweets. His favorites were especially dark chocolate from See’s Candy, Ghirardelli, Macadamia Nut Chocolates from Hawaii, Anne Sather’s cinnamon rolls, and the chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies from Big Island Candy and Honolulu Cookie Company. Loving “Uncle Charlie” was especially adored by niece Candace Yoshida, her spouse Roland, and their children Kayla, Jared, and Kyle of Claremont, California; nephew Derrick Yanagwa, his girlfriend Jessica Ready and her son Andrew Shoji of Carson, California; also by his sister-in-law Asa Naguwa, and many other special nieces, grand-nieces, nephews, grand-nephews throughout California and Hawaii. He was also beautifully loved and cherished by all of his dear friends, especially Lori and Jonas Casarona, Loraine Hasebe, Laura Lee and family, Michele Putini, Martha Small, and Tressi and George Turkmany. Preceded in death by siblings Hisako (Ogawa) Hamakawa, Tsukasa "Bert" Naguwa, Akira "Pete" Naguwa, Miyuki "Mildred" Masaki, Yukio Naguwa, Toshikatsu Naguwa, and Yoshie “Grace” Yanagawa, and by parents Sawanosuke Naguwa and Toku “Toka” Naguwa (nee Ogawa). Chicago friends and family are all invited and welcome to gather on Friday, October 11 (Chuck’s 93rd birthday!), from 1-5pm (eulogies begin 2pm) at Calo Ristorante, 5343 N. Clark St, Chicago. RSVP to: Info@InclusiveFuneralCare.com Cremated remains will be laid to rest on Saturday, October 26, 11am, Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 S. Western Ave, Palos Verdes, CA, 90275. Charles loved his Hawaiian food, so please join in celebrating his life and sharing aloha following the burial (1:30 - 3:30pm) at Back Home in Lahaina, 519 Carson St., Carson, CA 90745. RSVP to info@InclusiveFuneralCare.com. “Ciao! Aloha! Sayonara!” We will miss you, Uncle Charlie. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name and memory to the place he served and loved: Chinese Mutual Aid Association, www.chinesemutualaid.org. Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care 773-370-2959 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.

Charles Masayoshi Naguwa

October 11, 1931 - August 17, 2024