Ernest Mitsunobu Fujisaki

Ernest (Ernie) Mitsunobu Fujisaki, 94, died on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at home in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. He was born May 2, 1930 in Ola’a, a small plantation village on the Big Island of Hawaii to Mitsutaro and Tane (Matsumoto) Fujisaki, as the youngest of twelve children.

After graduating from Hilo High School and a stint in the US Army during the Korean War, Ernie relocated to Southern California in the 1950s. He attended technical school in Los Angeles and soon after gained employment as a draftsman and technical artist in the booming aerospace industry. He lived the American dream, marrying the girl that followed him to California, buying a home in the Torrance suburbs where they raised their two kids, progressed and thrived in a 30+ year career, then enjoyed a retirement that lasted as long as his work life. Throughout his life, Ernie surrounded himself with family and friends that provided joy, pride and meaning as well as a strong sense of community. His empathy, compassion, respect and sense of humor drew people to him as moths to a flame.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years Helen, son Stuart Fujisaki & wife Allyson, daughter Arlene Cass & husband Glenn, grandchildren Michael Pace & wife Heather Logue, Emily Pace Millard & husband Bjorn, Timothy Fujisaki and Ryne Fujisaki, great-grandchildren Thomas, Theo, Eloise & Georgia, and his one remaining sibling, Ian Fujisaki.