Lisa Lani Chinn
Lisa Lani Matsukawa was born in Wahiawa, Hawaii. She was the daughter of Joe and Florence Matsukawa of Aiea, Hawaii. She graduated from Aiea High School.
She attended the University of Hawaii and graduated from the University of Washington. Lisa fought a courageous battle with breast cancer and passed away on Feb. 20, 2014, at the age of 53.
Her varied career included work as an advertising account executive, human resources manager at Allstate Insurance and Precor, real estate agent, and volunteer coordinator at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington. After retiring from her full-time work, she also helped her husband Keith in the family construction business building, remodeling, and managing several residential properties.
Naturally athletic, Lisa was varsity captain of the Aiea High School tennis team, which went to state. Her true passion was honing her golf game. She loved to play various courses. Some of the highlights were playing both courses on the island of Lanai. She loved watching daughters Lindsay and Haley play golf, softball, and volleyball at Mercer Island High School. She was most proud of her daughters winning the Washington State 3A golf Championship, and when they played in the Pro-Am “First Tee” golf tournaments at Pebble Beach. She shared her love of golf with at-risk youth through the Bogey Bear Jr. Golf Foundation based at Jefferson Golf Course in Seattle, where, for more than a dozen years, she tirelessly recruited mentors, rustled up equipment, and organized the annual fundraising golf tournament. In 2013, Lisa and Bogey Bear were recognized by the Northwest Asian Weekly with the Visionary Award.
Lisa loved entertaining family and friends at her Mercer Island home. She decorated her house for the holidays and there was always an extra place at the table for visitors. Everyone looked forward to hydroplane Sundays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with home-baked cakes and “Spam musubi” at Aunty Lisa’s house. She also enjoyed working in her garden and traveling the world. Her pride and joy were her daughters, Lindsay and Haley, and being a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews.
Lisa is survived by her husband, Keith Chinn, of Mercer Island; daughters Lindsay and Haley; parents Joe and Florence Matsukawa of Aiea; sisters Lori Matsukawa (Larry Blackstock) of Bellevue and Liane Voss (Bruce) of Kailua; in-laws Dickson and Nellie Chinn of Bellevue; brothers-in-law Jeffrey Chinn (Joanie) of Redmond and Layne Chinn of Mercer Island; and six nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Lisa’s life is planned for Sunday, March 9, at 3 p.m. at Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 3001 24th Avenue South in Seattle. Aloha attire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bogey Bear Jr. Golf Foundation, P.O. Box 18825 Seattle, WA 98118. (end)