Randolph ‘Randy’ Ishihara
Feb. 17, 1950 – July 4, 2025

Randy Ishihara was born on Feb. 17, 1950, at Santa Monica Hospital and grew up in Santa Monica, California. He was the second of three children born to George and Chizuko Ishihara, with an older sister, Monica, and a younger brother, Jon.

Randy graduated from Santa Monica High School, or SAMO, in 1968, where he was an active member of the football and swim teams. He went on to attend Santa Monica City College before transferring to Humboldt State University, where he majored in physical education and earned his California Teaching Credential. 

At the time, California had a surplus of teachers, but there was a high demand for educators in Australia. Recruiters from Australia traveled to universities across the U.S. and Canada seeking teachers for two-year, tax-free contracts.

Randy accepted the opportunity and, during his final quarter at Humboldt, met Denise. Though he had completed his courses by the winter quarter, he remained at Humboldt as the unofficial "social director" before departing for Geelong, Victoria, in August. Denise joined him the following June.

They settled in the seaside town of Torquay, where Randy taught physical education at Geelong Technical School (Junior High). Alongside a community of American and Canadian expats, Randy and Denise built lifelong friendships, known for hosting some of the best parties, as recalled by one friend.

Every school break was filled with camping, fishing and traveling across Australia — except in 1973, when the couple returned to the U.S. to get married. They then returned to Australia, where they lived for 15 years and welcomed three sons: Rob, Rich and Scott.

With a desire to travel and Denise’s dream of owning a home, the couple decided to build their own house using adobe bricks and recycled materials. They completed the garage before Randy changed careers, leaving teaching to open a restaurant, The Flying Tomato Brothers. 

Eventually, wanting their sons to experience American schools and football, they returned to California in 1989. With Rich and Rob in third and fourth grade, respectively, and Scott just two and a half years old, the family moved in with Denise’s parents in Altadena, California, for six months.

Randy took substitute teaching jobs while applying for a full-time teaching job anywhere near a lake or river — his preferred locations due to his love of fishing. He eventually accepted a position at Oak Hill Middle School in Clearlake and became a football coach at Lower Lake High School. 

They moved to Kelseyville, where they reconnected with friends from Australia, Larry and Bev Bresso.

The stresses of their final years in Australia led to Randy and Denise’s divorce in 1996. Randy continued teaching and coaching, and helped establish the Kelseyville Chiefs in 1994, a youth football program for students in grades third through eighth.

  
Many of Randy’s past students and athletes share fond memories of Randy singing and playing his guitar at the end of class or on bus rides home from football or basketball games he coached in.

Randy later married Carol Kirk, who had three adult children — Anna, Matt and Becky — and a younger son, Billy. Randy became affectionately known as "Grampy" to Carol’s grandchildren.  

Randy continued to be deeply involved in family, fishing and friendships — his greatest passions. Up until his passing he enjoyed annual fishing trips to Baja Mexico, Alaska, and Washington state with his friends. Randy maintained close friendships with his friends from Humboldt State, organizing an annual reunion campout that is now on its 35th year.  

Randy was preceded in death by his parents, George and Chizuko Ishihara, and his stepmother, Seiko Ishihara.

He is survived by his sister, Monica, and his brother, Jon; his former wives, Denise Peterson and Carol Kirk; his sons, Rob Ishihara and his wife, Jennifer, of Penngrove, Rich Ishihara and his wife, Kristen, of Longview, Texas, and Scott Ishihara and his wife, Lauri, of Dallas, Texas; his stepchildren, Anna Oas and her husband, Jeff, Matthew Coulter and his wife, Sandy, Becky Simpson and her husband, Bob, and Billy Simpson; his grandchildren, Lucas, Briana, Ava and Dominic Ishihara; and his "Grampy" grandchildren, Jacqui, Audrey, Annabelle, Conner, Carson, Brady, Genna and Gabriel.

A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at 4001 Roblar Road in Petaluma.

Randy’s legacy lives on through his deep love for his family, his joy in building connections, and his enduring passion for adventure and the outdoors.