Earl Bakken a hui ho!
Earl E. Bakken, who invented the first wearable, battery-powered pacemaker died last week at age 94. He also co-founded Medtronic, the giant medical-device company. I often saw Mr. Bakken at various places including the Twilight event that’s held monthly at the Eva Parker Woods cottage at the shoreline at Makaiwa Bay near our Mauna Lani Beach Club. I saw him several times in Waimea walking the isles of Safeway food market and once at the Farmer’s Market at Parker School on a typical Saturday morning.
I knew of his accomplishments as many of us do here but he always seemed very approachable and kind at least from a distance. I learned from the property manager of his large, ocean front estate at Kiholo Bay that he loved ball room dance and that a large ballroom was constructed in his home specifically for this activity that he and his wife Doris really enjoyed.
Most of us living here full time also know he gave generously to the North Hawaii Community Hospital where “locals” like Lissette and I, have visited many time...
