Politician 'Ike' Sutton dead at 86
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
He had already placed his regular 4th of July advertisement, calling on the people of Hawai'i to remember the soldiers and sailors who died at Pearl Harbor.
And for many malihini, those little patriotic ads in the newspaper every holiday were what they knew of Richard Carpenter "Ike" Sutton, who died Saturday at St. Francis Hospice at the age of 86.
"Ike" Sutton was an advocate for war veterans.
But those who met him never forgot the politician who brought political sign-waving to Hawai'i and made the double red carnation lei his trademark.
He was a Pearl Harbor survivor who went on to serve on the staff of Adm. Chester Nimitz in World War II and mustered out with the rank of lieutenant commander.
Born in Honolulu on April 5, 1915, Sutton graduated from Punahou School. He earned a bachelor's degree at Stanford University and returned to Hawai'i to work for Hawaiian Electric Co. He served in the Marine Corps in 1937-38 and in the U.S. Naval Reserve on active duty from 1940 to 1946.
After the war, Sutton returned to Stanford for his law degree and began practicing law in Hawai'i in 1950. He owned the Malihini Hotel in Waikiki and was active in real estate as well.
Sutton was the Republican Party's candidate for Congress in 1962 and 1964, a delegate to the state Constitutional Convention in 1968 and was appointed a federal judge for Wake Island by President Nixon.
He served in the state House, representing Nu'uanu from 1974 to 1980 and was a candidate for other offices, most recently for lieutenant governor in 1994.
"He was humble," youngest son Warner "Kimo" Sutton quipped yesterday, "but he tried not to be."
Sutton was tireless advocate for veterans and a leader in several veterans organizations.
In addition to his son Kimo, Sutton is survived by his wife, Anne; son Richard Jr., daughters Beverly Toomey and Linda Kemp; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services are pending.
