Joseph Nishimoto Obituary

I met Joe at Waialae Country Club when I returned to Honolulu from law school at a "Club Day". I was shocked to find out that the other men in our group wanted to play a friendly game of $100 Nassau, front 9, back 9 and overall score (if you lost everything, you could lose $300). I didn't have $20 in my wallet and told Joe that I couldn't participate. He told me not to worry about it and that he would cover my bet. I felt so much pressure playing because I didn't want to be responsible for him losing any money, that I hit my first shot in the ditch on the 16th hole. Eventually our team won $200 a person because Joe was such a good putter (in my opinion the best putter at Waialae CC for 25 years). Joe would go with me to UH football games as we both loved sports. We also both enjoyed wine, having taking wine classes at the "Grape Escape" together. I started collecting wine in the mid 70s and Joe was an original member of my wine tasting group. We share many bottles of vintage Bordeaux at my home and at various restaurants. Joe taught me to eat sushi and sashimi, treating me to a number of dinners at Kabuki in Pearl City and Kabuki on Kapiolani Boulevard. Whenever I formed "scramble" teams, I always invited Joe because he was a great putter. We played in scramble tournaments at Waialae CC and traveled to Kauai and Maui together to compete in "scramble" tournaments. I traveled with Joe and Maude to Monterey to play golf at Pebble Beach and other courses in the Carmel area. Joe also taught me about gambling, something I now enjoy but at a much lower level. I still use wine and cognac glasses Joe gave to me after he moved out of his home in Pearl City.
I have such fond memories of the time I shared with Joe.......going to football games, tasting wine, going to sushi bars and playing golf.

We were a family of 10 children living in Waipahu. I believe we were one of his first patients when he opened his practice in Pearl City because I remember being treated by him for stomach pains when I was then a senior in high school in 1965. During the summer months when my seven brothers would get into mischief that required medical attention, I was the one who drove my mother and patient to Dr. Joe´s first office in lower Pearl City. He was very kind, humble, and generous as he knew my parents were struggling financially. I continued to go to him even as an adult and even when I moved to Honolulu. He was one of the best doctors I´ve ever had. Thank you, Dr. Joe. You will always be remembered.

Dr. Joe..what a great and productive life...RIP