Sergio "Don" Nolasco Domondon's Obituary
Sergio “Don” Nolasco Domondon
Born on June 10, 1934, in Guadalupe, Makati, Philippines to Cristeta Nolasco of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija and Juan Domondon of Bauang, La Union, Philippines.
Peacefully entered heaven on May 15, 2026.
Don enjoyed learning and retained facts and information, including science and history, like no other. He finished high school in three years then attended the University of the Philippines, graduating in 1954 with a degree in Zoology. He and his family relocated to the United States when his father retired from the U.S. Army. It took 17 days by ship to cross the Pacific to Fort Baker, San Francisco. He and his father found jobs picking tomatoes at a farm in Pinole, California then went on to prepare and deliver meals to residents at a senior home in Belmont. It was hard work that paid the bills.
Don dreamt of going to medical school and while he was applying, he received a draft call to report for military service and was sent to basic training at Parks Air Force Base (AFB) in Pleasanton, California then to medical corpsman school at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. During this time, his family made their way to Seattle, Washington. Don was then assigned to a hospital at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, Washington and reported to the Clinical Laboratory Department to lead the Parasitology Division.
While on assignment, he met his wife Rose, who was visiting her sister Shirley, a friend in Spokane. Don and Rose married in June 1960 and had three girls. The family transferred only a handful of times: to Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska, George AFB in Victorville, California, Clark Air Base, the Philippines, and Hamilton AFB, Marin County near San Francisco. Don continued his education and received a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California Graduate school on-base program. Along with Rose, he obtained a Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco where they commuted together to evening classes three times a week, with and
without kids in tow.
Don served our country with pride and put in for his last assignment to retire with 20 years of military service. The decision was not a difficult one and in 1971, he moved the family to Hickam AFB in Honolulu and settled in Pearl City. He retired as Major with the Air Force Medical Service Corps serving as Registrar at Hickam’s Dispensary in-charge of military and dependents medical records, Medical Boards, and patient air evacuations.
Don then took a job at Kuakini Medical Center as Administrator of both the Asthma Research Program and Research Department then became the Assistant Vice President of Patient Care Services. He also worked in Civil Service as Management Analyst at Wheeler Air Base and Pearl Harbor Naval Base, and received an assignment at Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) to evaluate manpower in the Pacific where he traveled extensively to Japan. During this detail, he climbed Mt. Fuji, an accomplishment he described as an experience of a
lifetime.
All who got to know Don clearly saw his passion for the arts and over the years, his talent and creativity evolved. From Craypas to oil paints, and Chinese brush painting, his artwork expressed the beauty and simplicity of Oriental Art and design. In addition to painting and drawing, Don created logos for the Aloha Medical Mission, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church (OLGC) Filipino Catholic Club/Ministry, and OLGC School. He made greeting cards with calligraphy on rice paper, wrote poetry and haiku, designed evening gowns and wedding dresses, handpainted his girls’ prom gowns, drew Snoopy and other characters for school campaign posters, made macrame planter hangers, and dabbled in pottery.
Don enjoyed cooking and entertaining at home, where each dish was not only delicious, but artistically and meticulously-presented and served in the appropriate vessel. Italian, Filipino, and desserts were favorites to make for family and church parties.
He loved to travel with Rose, family, close friends, and classmates. On ground and sea, he explored country after country on nearly every continent, except Antarctica. When he had time, he would play golf, tennis, or jog a few days a week.
Don took volunteerism seriously and helped where he could at church, the community, and abroad. At OLGC Church and School, Don served as President and one of the founders of the Filipino Catholic Club/Ministry, the Finance Committee, Renovation/Master Plan Committee, and school board. He was on the CYO Board of Directors, Catholic Social Service Advisory Board, and president of Hawaii Advocates for the Elderly in Waipahu.
He served on the Executive Board for the State Department of Health’s Mental Health Division and Central Oahu Mental Health Advisory Board and was Executive Director for the Aloha
Medical Mission, which provides free health care to medically underserved people in Hawaii and around the world. He mentored kids with science projects at Waipahu Elementary School, became a tour guide at the Hawaii Plantation Village, and a docent on the U.S.S. Missouri.
Don joins Rose and daughter Christie, who he missed dearly. He is survived by daughters Laura Lee (Evan) and Liana Mulleitner Dirks (Scott), grandchildren, Payton, Eric, and Taylor, and sisters Evangelina Lazo, Corazon Salgado, and Cristeta Wood.
The public is invited to celebrate Don’s life on July 7 at 9 a.m., Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 1525 Waimano Home Road, Pearl City. Mass follows at 10 a.m. and burial is 1 p.m. at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. Aloha attire is requested.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mālama Ola Foundation
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