The Generous Everyman

A Hilo boy who worked the midnight shift at the Honolulu postal distribution center and cared for his parents, Mort Matsumoto’s quiet generosity leaves a legacy anyone can aspire to.

Mort’s senior yearbook photo, Hilo High Class of 1976.

Mort Masami Matsumoto wasn’t looking for recognition or acclaim. A Hilo High School graduate who spent his career working the midnight shift at the Honolulu postal distribution center, Mort found contentment in life’s simple pleasures: a cold beer with friends, watching sports, trips to Las Vegas, and caring for the people he loved. When he passed unexpectedly at age 63, this unassuming local boy created something extraordinary, a legacy that will touch countless lives across Hawaiʻi for generations to come.

A Classic Hilo Boy

Born in Hilo in 1958, Mort grew up an only child devoted to his parents, before leaving for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he studied graphic design and developed a passion for drawing. Though his career path ultimately led him to the United States Postal Service rather than a creative field, his artistic sensibility remained part of who he was throughout his life.

Despite living on Oʻahu for work, Mort regularly returned to Hilo to visit his parents and help care for them as they aged, mowing the lawn and handling household tasks, particularly after his father passed in the early 2000s. When his mother died a decade ago, Mort kept the family home, maintaining his connection to his parents and his hometown.

“He was really a family person, a homebody,” remembers his second cousin and CPA Keith Shimizu, who describes Mort as “a happy-go-lucky guy” who “really took care of his mom and dad.”

Finding Joy in Community

Mort’s life was defined not by grand gestures but by genuine connections and simple contentments. His private banker at Bank of Hawaiʻi in Hilo, Elaine Johnson, who worked closely with him for years, smiles fondly when she hears Mort’s name. “He was as local as can be,” she says. “He was just a really good guy. He was an average Joe, he didn’t put on any airs, but he was a happy soul, and he had a great laugh. He really appreciated everything.”

“He was a happy soul.”
- Elaine Johnson, Mort’s Private Banker at Bank of Hawaiʻi, Hilo

Johnson, who counted Mort among her favorite clients, recalls his generosity of spirit. He would bring bags of oranges from his mother’s tree to share, enjoyed spending weekends with friends watching sports over beer and pupus, and lent money to friends in need. Mort approached life with steady contentment rather than restless ambition.

When it came time to plan his estate, Mort worked thoughtfully with the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation team to which Johnson connected him, pondering how to shape a legacy that reflected his values. As an only child with no spouse or children of his own, he saw an opportunity to turn a lifetime of hard work and the careful stewardship of his inheritance into something that would outlive him, supporting causes close to his heart while honoring his parents’ memory.

A Legacy of Quiet Generosity

Upon his passing, Mort’s thoughtful planning resulted in the creation of the Mort Matsumoto Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. This endowed designated fund means his generosity will continue giving back in perpetuity, supporting organizations that meant something to him and his family, year after year: Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, where he and his parents’ remains rest; the Hawaiian Humane Society; the American Cancer Society; the American Heart Association; the American Red Cross; and PBS Hawaiʻi. Each year, these organizations receive funding to continue their vital work, all because one postal worker chose to give back.

“Everyone at PBS Hawaiʻi feels a deep sense of gratitude to Mr. Matsumoto for his trust and support,” said Ron Mizutani, PBS Hawaiʻi President and CEO. “His extremely generous gift comes from a place of true aloha and will have an immediate and lasting impact on the work we do. We are now 100 percent community-funded, and gifts like his make a real difference in the stories we share and in our ability to reach audiences across the islands and beyond our shores.”

“His extremely generous gift comes from a place of true aloha and will have an immediate and lasting impact on the work we do.”
- Ron Mizutani, PBS Hawaiʻi President and CEO

A Testament to the Everyday Hero

Consider what Mort’s legacy means in practical terms: families receiving cancer treatment support, pets finding loving forever homes, disaster victims receiving emergency aid, keiki learning from educational programming, temple members gathering in community. Year after year, generation after generation, community benefits flowing from one person’s decision to plan thoughtfully and give generously.

Mort’s life reminds us that you don’t need affluence or status to leave a legacy; all that’s required is values and intentions. He did not need a corner office or a fortune to make a difference. He needed what he had: a generous heart, thoughtful planning, and a desire to help others.

“He had a good life,” Shimizu reflects. “He did what he wanted to do, whenever he wanted to do it. He was very thoughtful, very happy, and he lived a very humble life.”

It’s the kind of example any of us should be proud to leave behind: proof that a simple life, lived with care and generosity, can create a legacy of positive change that extends long after our time here has expired.

To learn more about Legacy Giving, please contact HCF Donor Services at (808) 566-5560 or donorservices@hcf-hawaii.org.