D.C. Leader Marumoto Dies Suddenly of Heart Attack
Friday, Nov. 28, 2008

William Mo Marumoto was CEO of Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies.

William H. Marumoto spent five decades
in public service, including on the staff of
the Nixon Administration.

WASHINGTON.—William H. (Mo) Marumoto, president and chief execu­tive officer of the Asian Pacific Ameri­can Institute for Congressional Studies, passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack on Tuesday. He was 73.

Marumoto’s career expanded more than five decades of giving back to his country, his community, and his friends. He joined the White House staff as Spe­cial Assistant to the President Richard M. Nixon and served more than three years recruiting individuals for Cabinet and sub-Cabinet positions. Prior to his stint at the White House, he was Assis­tant to the Secretary at the U.S. Depart­ment of Health, Education and Welfare, responsible for all senior-level recruiting for the U.S. Office of Education.

“Mo’s contributions to the Asian American communities across the country span several decades and his compassion to help people find a job, smoke a good cigar and go fishing are but a few of the many kindnesses that came naturally to him. He has enriched the lives of so many people he touched. I am certainly one of them,” said APA­ICS Chair David L. Kim. “Today our community and our country have truly lost a great American, father, husband, and dear friend.”

Marumoto received more than 25 na­tional professional awards for his work in higher education, fundraising, direct mail, events management, and publica­tions. In June 2008, he was honored by President George W. Bush with the Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award. His staff had estimated that he had contributed more than 40,000 vol­unteer hours to 35 local, regional and national nonprofit organizations over a 50-year period.

Upon his retirement as founder, Chairman and chief executive officer of The Interface Group, Ltd., Marumoto accepted the position as president and CEO of the Asian Pacific Institute for Congressional Studies in September 2006.

A native of Southern California, Marumoto is the son of Japanese immigrants. He and his family spent three years in a relocation camp in Gila River, Ariz. during World War II.

Former Secretary of Transportation and APAICS Vice Chair Norman Y. Mineta said, “I’ve known Mo for over 35 years and he and Jean have been great friends over those years. Whether it was at HEW, Presidential Person­nel Office in the White House or in the private sector, Mo always remembered from whence he came and set high standards for himself and everybody around him. Since he flunked ‘retirement,’ Mo dedicated himself to doing what he knew best — developing young Asian American Pacific Islander talent into being leaders for tomorrow. We are all going to sorely miss his humor, his style, and love of life.”

Rep. Mike Honda called Marumoto a leader commit­ted to strengthening the Asian Pacific Islander community through his work with APAICS.

“There, he raised funds to triple the number of fellow­ships provided by APAICS, identifying young talent in the AAPI community and giving them greater opportunities on Capitol Hill and throughout federal government,” said Honda. “Mr. Marumoto always saw potential in others, whether in the public or private sectors, and wished for our community to reach its own fullest potential.

Among the numerous boards and commissions he sat on, like the Board of Trustees of the Japanese American National Museum and Whittier College, of which he is a graduate, he eagerly looked forward to promoting them. He was also a member of the Wolf Trap Foundation of the Performing Arts, the Asian and American Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF), and the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging. He was also the first Asian American to become a member of the Congressional Country Club of Bethesda, Maryland.

Marumoto is survived by his wife Jean; three daugh­ters, Wendy, Lani, and Tamiko; son Todd and eight grand­children. A memorial service will take place on Dec. 8 at 11 p.m. followed by a reception at the McLean Bible Church Smith Center located at 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Mo Marumoto Memorial Fund and be sent to APAICS, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW., Suite 530, Washington, D.C., 20036