Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 2008 — IN MEMONIAM / HE HOʻOMANAʻO Robert E. 1936-2008 Worthington [ARTICLE]

IN MEMONIAM / HE HOʻOMANAʻO Robert E. 1936-2008 Worthington

Robert Eugene Worthington, who forged lasting educational ties between South Pacific Islands and his alma mater Kamehameha Schools, died Aug. 14. He was 72. Worthington, a distinguished KS alumnus and leader, exhibited a deep understanding and support of nationhood in the Paeiūe Islands that gamered him praise as a visionary who grasped the impoūanee of connecting independent island governments and cultures, even before the Hawaiian renaissance of the 1970s. Married to a native of the Cook Islands, where he briefly lived, Worthington served as the Cook Islands honorary consul to the United States. At Kamehameha Schools, Worthington served as boarding director from 1974 to 1978, and was inspired by a visit to New Zealand to boost the school's international student body by establishing exchange programs between the Kapālama campus and educational institutions in American Samoa,

Lrench Polynesia, Cook Islands and New Zealand. He also served as the school's ūnaneial and scholarship services director from 1974 to 2003. "Bob grew Kamehameha's post-high financial aid program to levels that assured thousands of Hawaiian men and women a college education," said Kamehameha Schools president Miehael Chun in a letter to Kamehameha 'ohana. "Bob laid the foundation upon whieh Kamehameha's ūnaneial aid program now flourishes. We mahalo him with great appreciation and aloha." Worthington also served as a consultant to Chanūnade University, helping launeh the school's exchange program with the Cook Islands. Born in Waikīkī, Worthington rose from humhle fanūly roots and was accepted into Kamehameha School for Boys as a boarding student and was student body president in his senior year. He attended Occidental College on scholarship and earned a degree in poliūeal science. Worthington was an active member of Native Hawaiian civic clubs and served on the executive board of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. He was married to lean and had 10 ehikken and 5 grandchildren. S