Frank Hung Chul Nam

A long-time resident of Manhattan Beach & Santa Barbara, California, Frank Hung Chul Nam, passed away on December 27, 2018 from congestive heart failure. He was 89 years old.

After being displaced from his home due to the Montecito mudslides of January 2018, Frank was able to return to his beloved Montecito home in November of 2018 and passed away in his home surrounded by family, with Hawaiian music playing in the background.

Frank was born on April 5, 1929 in Honolulu, Hawaii to In Ok Lee and Kin-Sik Nam both of South Korea. Frank graduated from McKinley High School class of 1948 and UC Santa Barbara class of 1955. Frank was known as the unofficial mayor of Manhattan Beach having established the Hibachi Restaurant in the 1960s and owner of Frank's Bar & Grill, the Hermosa Fish Market Cafe and later, Hibachi Restaurant in Santa Barbara. Frank loved the restaurant business and enjoyed serving his famous navy grog, mai tai, meat salad, and teriyaki chicken to residents of the South Bay area.

Frank was active all his life from tennis at Live Oak Park and Manhattan Country Club to running on the Strand and participating in Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair's 10k; abalone and lobster diving off Palos Verdes; backpacking in the Santa Barbara mountains; and swimming at the Montecito YMCA well into his 80s! Frank was a generous host and loved a good party.

Frank is survived by his wife, Isako, his daughters: Kimi Nam (Charles Henderson) of Portland, Oregon, Mie Hartmann of Solvang, California, and Emi Maia Nam (Jeffrey May) of Chicago, Illinois; grandchildren: Lawrence Hartmann, Hannah Hartmann, Tara Hartmann, Kai Henderson, Ian Hartmann, and Cassian May; Brother, Robert Nam of Honolulu, Hawaii and numerous nieces and nephews. 

The Nam family is grateful for prayers and love being sent their way, and well wishes can be sent to Mie Hartmann at hibachi1960@gmail.com. A celebration of life will be held in Santa Barbara this summer. Please contact Mie for details. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salvation Army or UCSB in memory of Frank Nam. Frank had a soft spot for the Salvation Army as they helped his family through lean times while he was growing up in Hawaii.

Raise a glass in Frank's honor, "Okole Maluna" or "Suck Em Up!"