Robert Cisco, accountant, volunteer, dead at 92
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Robert Cisco, honored last year by the Honolulu Rotary Club as a living treasure, was a public accountant with business sense.
"Any good accountant can keep the books but his business knowledge made him much more than an accountant," architect Frank Haines said of his friend of more than 50 years who died Monday at St. Francis-West Hospice at 92.
Robert Cisco was active in the community for many years.
Haines recalled that in 1952 Cisco advised him and his partners to incorporate, which they did in founding Lemmon, Freeth & Haines. The company later became Architects Hawaii Lt.
"Architects are not trained in business so what Bob Cisco brought to us was business knowledge and sophistication," said Haines, who recalls that company stock which he purchased for $10 a share was worth $14,000 a share 10 years ago when he retired.
In addition to being a Rotarian, Cisco was an active community volunteer for many years. "Growing up, I remember he was always the treasurer of something," Cliff Cisco said of his father.
Robert Cisco was born in New Mexico and earned a degree in economics from the University of New Mexico. He came to Hawai'i in the spring of 1941 as civilian accountant in Public Works at Pearl Harbor. He opened his own accounting firm after World War II and was founder and managing partner of PKF-Hawai'i before he retired.
A memorial service will be held at the Pacific Club on June 19 from 5-7 p.m.
Survivors include sons Cliff, Terry of Kailua, Kona, and John of Napa, Calif.; daughter Frances McCormick of Albuquerque, N.M.; 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
