Michael Cho Obituary

MICHAEL MIKE K. CHO Our brother Michael 'Mike' K. Cho, passed away on September 21, 2024, at the age of 68 surrounded by family. Born on September 2, 1956 in Honolulu, Mike lived a life marked by his love for family, being a positive thinker, enduring spirit, deep rooted values, and his strong convictions. Mike always believed that he could accomplish anything as long as he worked it out first in his mind. Mike graduated from McKinley High School (class of '74) and received an athletic scholarship to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Unfortunately he suffered a paralyzing neck injury in his freshman year that would leave him a quadriplegic for the remaining 50 years of his life. Although Mike's accident was tragic and led him to travel down a trail filed with hard work and mental anguish; he rebuilt his life, socially as well as athletically. Starting in 1984 and until his retirement in 1992 Mike achieved an amazing feat by becoming an Olympian and going for the gold in the 1988 Seoul Paralympic Games held in Seoul, Korea. He joined the Wheelchair Athletic Association and was recognized at the time as one of the country's best precision air rifle shooters in Quadriplegic with Shooting Aids Division. After winning his first national title in 1985, Mike went on to win many national medals in addition to setting marksmanship records as a member of the USA Wheelchair Athletic Association. In 1992 after retiring from air gun shooting, Mike found a new passion by advocating for people with disabilities. He sat on the Board of Directors for Hawaii Disabilities Rights Center. He was also very active as an a advocate for independent living and often appeared before the Legislature and Courts in support of Longterm care issues. Mike's wish and hope for his life was to stay out of nursing homes and be able to live on his own, with minimum amount of care giving. Another passion in Mike's life was his love for the Lord. Mike was a devoted member of the Calvary Assembly of God, where he worshipped under Pastor Terry Wong. His faith was a cornerstone of his life along with his grateful love for his family, friends and acquaintances. Mike is survived by his loving siblings, Linda Kahana (Alfred), Joe Cho and May Andrade and his brother-in-law Robert Dela Cuesta and his many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth SG and May Cho and siblings Lanette Dela Cuesta and Kenneth M. Cho. A service to honor Mike's life will be held at Oahu Mortuary in Honolulu on November 8, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The mortuary staff will assist the family in honoring Mike's legacy and bidding him a heartfelt farewell. Arrangements Provided By: Oahu Mortuary