Obituary: RICHARD A. COONS

Richard A. Coons, 73, former Managing Partner of the Hawaii office of Deloitte & Touche LLP, passed away at Queens Medical Center on November 22, 2012.  He suffered a heart attack in Vancouver, Canada en route to an annual fishing trip.  He succumbed to his condition several months later.

In 2008 the Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants named him to its first Legacy Hall of Fame.  He was appointed by the Chief Justice to four terms on the Disciplinary Board of the Hawaii Supreme Court.  Most recently he served on the Screening Committee to assist in the selection process of Kamehameha Schools’ Board of Trustees. 

Richard Coons was born in Oklahoma, raised in Nebraska and California.  He was a graduate of California State University at Long Beach.  At age 28, he merged his Santa Rosa, California CPA practice with Touche Ross & Company becoming a relatively young partner in a “Big 8” national CPA firm.  While with Touche Ross he moved to Hawaii in 1974 to become the Managing Partner.  The firm later became Deloitte & Touche LLP.

He was a past president of Historic Hawai’i Foundation, a member of Rotary International, 200 Club, National Rifle Association, Aloha Shriners, Republican Party, Outrigger Canoe Club, and Waialae Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Marumoto-Coons, sons, Theodore L. Coons and Charles R. Coons, step-children Marshall T. Marumoto, Jay M. Marumoto, M.D., Wendy Suite, Megan T. Marumoto, M.D., one granddaughter and 7 step-grandchildren.  Friends will remember him as honest, rather reserved, with a good sense of humor.  He enjoyed horseback riding, tennis, sailing, and fishing.

Services will be held at Waialae Baptist Church on Sat.,  Dec. 15.  Visitation will commence at 3 pm with services at 4pm.  Aloha attire.  Private burial will be held at a later date.  Memorial donations can be made to HUGS or Waialae Baptist Church. 

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