Former Sen. Thomas V. Villagomez, the third of Kiyu’s 12 children, said, “We gathered and we were with him.”
Even after their mother, Luise, passed away in 2007 and his brother, Joseph, in June last year, the former senator said his father, one of the most respected patriarchs in the CNMI, kept his family together.
Kiyu, as he was popularly known, passed away Friday morning surrounded by his family members in his bedroom in Finasisu. He was 87.
In a media release yesterday, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos extended their condolences to Kiyu’s family.
“Fondly known as Ta Ne’ Kiyu…[and] born on Jan. 24, 1924, Manuel grew up during the Japanese occupation and witnessed the Battle of Saipan between American troops and Japanese soldiers,” Fitial said.
Inos said Kiyu “became a pioneering entrepreneur for the local community through the various business ventures under the MSV flagship of companies. The esteemed gentleman and avid baseball fan was also a major co-sponsor to the lone public library, properly named the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library.”
“Just a couple of days before his passing,” Fitial said, “I paid a visit to this fine patriarch at his home. I fondly recalled his love of baseball and his passion for the San Francisco Giants. It is truly no coincidence that this honorable man bid farewell during the opening day games of Major League Baseball. Manuel Kiyu’s passing is a deep loss for our commonwealth. He will be sorely missed.”
Former Senator Villagomez, who inherited his father’s nickname, said Kiyu “never missed Major League Baseball games and even the Little League World Series. We never bothered him when he’s in front of the television, watching the game.”
Since Kiyu’s condition started to deteriorate five months after being diagnosed with bladder cancer, all of them made sure they were always around him.
“He kept us together,” the former senator said.
He recalled that his father never missed the annual Liberation Day parade, and they always had a spot for the entire event along Beach Road where they would camp out prior to the festivities.
Last year, on the Fourth of July, the former senator said his father Kiyu brought together all the five generations of the family.
Many came from off-island — Kiyu’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren — who gathered to celebrate Liberation Day with their patriarch.
Kiyu was one of the few local World War II veterans honored in the annual Veterans Day celebration.
He was on the islands’ police force which, immediately after the war, rounded up many Japanese stragglers. He was also the CNMI’s first civilian aide to the U.S. Secretary of the Army.
His eldest daughter Linda said Kiyu lived his life to the fullest and was blessed with 12 children — six girls and six boys.
Former Senator Villagomez said one of the lessons he learned from his father is respect.
“He always made sure that we respect each other. Age doesn’t matter. Respect must be given to everyone.”
