SATORU ABE Obituary

SATORU ABE Satoru Abe, age 98 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep in Honolulu, Hawai'i, on February 4, 2025. Satoru attended McKinley High School in Honolulu and The Art Students League of New York in New York City. While attending classes there, he met his wife, Ruth Aiko Tanji. They married and returned to Hawai'i in 1950. He was a member of the Metcalf Chateau group, and in 1956 returned to New York City to start his career as a sculptor and painter. Known mostly for his sculptures, he joined the Sculpture Center in New York City and went on to create many pieces, now housed in museums and private collections. In 1963 he was awarded the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship. He returned to Hawai'i in 1970, after being awarded an Artist-in-Residence grant in Waianae, Hawai'i. While living in Makaha, he continued to do outdoor sculptures and tended to his garden with Ruth and their numerous German Shepherd dogs. He completed "Volcano," a piece that now resides in front of Aloha Stadium. Satoru was commissioned to produce granite sculptures, floor designs, and laser engravings at the Honolulu Airport. He had solo exhibitions at the Contemporary Museum of New York, Gallery EAS, Saks Fifth Avenue, First Hawaiian Center, the UH Art Gallery, and the Honolulu Museum of Art. Awarded numerous commissions by the State of Hawai'i on Oahu and the neighbor islands, he never forgot the generosity of those around him. And in turn, he was an ardent supporter of upcoming artists. Generous with his time and presence, he will be missed by all who have known and talked to him. Satoru was predeceased by his wife, Ruth in 2001 and survived by, daughter, Gail Goto (Fred), 2 grandsons: Donovan Goto (Junghyun Lee), and Dylan Goto (Marissa Chow), and a younger brother, Robert Abe (Reiko). A Memorial Service will be held at the Mililani Memorial Park & Mortuary, Mauka Chapel on Saturday, August 9, 2025. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Service begins at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of monetary contributions, the family requests that attendees write a personal message about Satoru. You may prepare a card on your own in advance or write your message on note cards provided at the service. These writings will remain a significant keepsake for the family.