Shoso Narikawa successfully pursued his interests in athletics, business and music with a gritty, never-give-up attitude and a soft heart.

He was an easy man to like and generous to a fault, said family and friends of Narikawa, who died Oct. 8 at St. Francis Medical Center. He was 88.

"You name it, he could make money at it. But he was very generous and helped a lot of people," said Kiyoshi Okaneku of his best friend for more than 50 years.

In athletics, Narikawa was a pole vaulter at McKinley High who became better known over six decades as a player, coach and sponsor in various union and AJA softball leagues on O'ahu, most recently in the Sunday makule league that plays at Kawananakoa Middle School.

Narikawa was also a black-belt in shotokan karate and a former martial arts instructor for the Honolulu Police Department.

"He was the backbone for a lot of our teams, a real hustler," on and off the field, said Herb Okamura, a friend and former teammate.

A tireless worker who once held four part-time jobs while employed full-time as a district manager for the Ho-nolulu Star-Bulletin in the 1950s, Nari-kawa invested his money in property in Kalihi Valley and Liliha. At one time, he also owned Terminal Bakery in Kalihi and two okazuya delicatessens — Mitsuba and Tsubaki.

Narikawa recently ended a landscaping business because of failing health.

"My father was a visionary, and that's what made him different," said Evangeline Inoue, the eldest of Narikawa's two daughters. "My mother told me that when he was a senior at McKinley, he was already looking at property to buy.

"The one thing my father instilled in all of us was 'don't you ever give up,' " Inoue added. "He not only preached it, he practiced it. You know, I remember that even when he was working all those jobs, he spent a lot of time with his family between jobs. He taught us how to swim, and I don't ever remember a time he wasn't there for one of my activities."

Narikawa was an accomplished karaoke singer who often performed Japanese songs with his wife of 64 years, the former Dorothy Itai, and other family members in local contests.

He once played bass and electric guitar with the Aloha Serenaders, who performed at the old Kokusai theater near 'A'ala Park.

Egan Inoue, a two-time world champion in racquetball, jujitsu and full-contact fighting, said his grandfather introduced him to sports at age 4 and motivated him to succeed.

"He started me in surfing, martial arts, baseball and basketball and pushed me really hard," Egan Inoue said. "He was a perfectionist, and I can hear him saying, 'No give up, never give up.' He was always there to support me and my brother (Enson)."

Narikawa is also survived by daughter Trudy Fuchigami; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother Richard, and sisters Gladys Tokunaga and Elsie Midori.

Visitation will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary; service at 4:30 p.m. No flowers. Casual attire.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.