Phillip Buck Olsen, 90, of Honolulu, passed away peacefully March 18, 2021. I was fortunate to know Phil and to see him at Straub Medical Center three days before his passing. He was filled with his charismatic humor, wide smiles and a twinkle in his vibrant blue eyes. Phil was a devoted RPCVHI member; he will be missed.
Excerpts from his obituary in Star Advertiser:
In his 90 years, Phil had a wide variety of occupations and lived in myriad places. He responded to President Kennedy's historic challenge, "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country," by joining, in 1962, the first group of Peace Corps volunteers to go to the Philippines. In 1967, Phil became Director of Peace Corps training in Hilo, Hawaii, training 3,000 volunteers to serve in Asia and the Pacific. He shared his dedication to service and passion for the Peace Corps with his step-daughter Malia, who followed in his footsteps as a second-generation Peace Corps Volunteer 30 years later.
To read the full obituary, please click here.
* * * * * * * * *
Excerpts from his obituary in Star Advertiser:
Carl Richard Fassler, a community leader of many talents whose book Rainbow Kids shared Hawaii's mixed-race population with the world, died March 15 at his Manoa home, age 79. Born Oct. 7, 1941 in Illinois, he attended Kenyon College and Columbia University. Peace Corps in Thailand changed his life and brought him to Hawaii for training, where he met wife Karen.
To read the full obituary, please click here.