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Rocky Aoki Obituary
Aoki, whose Benihana empire includes more than 100 restaurants worldwide, died Thursday night in New York from pneumonia, surrounded by his wife and six children, company spokeswoman Nancy Bauer said Friday.
Born Hiroaki Aoki, he worked in the family business, a coffee shop in Japan, and wanted to offer diners "something out of the ordinary," along with their food. Aoki also inherited his father's love for theater, according to the restaurant's Web site.
He held a spot on the Japanese Olympic wrestling team, which eventually brought him to America. He served ice cream by day and studied restaurant management at night, dreaming of opening a restaurant that would blend entertainment and food.
He opened his first restaurant in New York in 1964, naming it Benihana, which means "red flower" — the same name as his parent's coffee shop.
Designed to look like an authentic Japanese farmhouse interior, food was prepared "teppan-yaki" style at the table on a steel grill, where specially trained chefs performed knife tricks while cooking up the restaurant's signature shrimp, steak and chicken dishes.
In 1999, Miami-based Benihana purchased a majority share in Haru, an upscale, New York sushi restaurant, and eventually opened nine others. The company later acquired the RA Sushi restaurants, which bloomed to 19 locations nationally.
The Benihana empire has grown to 5,000 employees.
"Rocky's legacy is much greater than Benihana; he was also a well-known sportsman, philanthropist, environmentalist and author," Benihana chairman and CEO Joel Schwartz said in a statement.
He was an avid wrestler, balloonist and backgammon player. Family members said Aoki crossed the Pacific Ocean in a balloon with his Double Eagle V crew on a flight from Japan to California in 1981.
The Rocky H. Aoki Foundation has benefited Juvenile Diabetes, the Leukemia Society and the National Foundation for Cancer Research.
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press
34 Entries
Sam Tucky
March 8, 2018
thank you for best chicken fried rice on the planet
March 8, 2018
This guy is my hero thank you for never giving up and making Benihana possible
Fay Furtado
August 5, 2017
I worked for rocky aoki at his first benihana of tokyo of new york .I was a young girl .I have many good memories back then . Rocky was always kind and thoughtful. .for some reason I was thinking of benihana and rocky and saw that he had passed. God bless and rest in peace.
How you can show support
Cheryl Spelino
July 20, 2013
Rest in peace
clare
February 19, 2013
Seems like a great guy!
He has one of the most beautiful women on earth as a daughter,Devon.
R.I.P.
Rocky and I in Costa Rica
Art Low
February 11, 2013
I once met Rocky while on vacation in Costa Rica. We shared pleasantries and business cards while riding down an elevator. For several years afterward, I would receive a Christmas card from him. He was a class act.
Joyce Ehling
January 24, 2013
May God Bless you, Rocky. It was nice knowing you. Twins-Janice & Joyce Ehling
November 14, 2012
WOW! I was just thinking of himm and thought I would see what he was up to, What a full life you had, and have given! I trust you will have a bright passing!!! Michael
Richard Takahashi-Hawkins
September 18, 2011
I used to teach Rocky's friend English in the Okura Hotel. He invited me to a charity event where I got to meet Prince Edward. He was always kind to me and helped me a lot. Didn't know he was gone until recently. Aloha from the Big Island and Waikoloa!
Ajay kapur
March 30, 2011
May God bless you.it was nice knowing you.
Chantal Nizoux
August 10, 2010
J'ai le souvenir de merveilleux moments passés avec Rocky et mon fils en montgolfière,dans son manoir du New Jersey ou en balade aux chutes du Niagara. Il était brillant, chaleureux et généreux et d'un dynamisme étourdissant! C'est triste de penser qu'il n'est plus là !
Dannu Hiyoki
May 5, 2010
I was in the balloon with Rocky when we crossed the Pacific. It was the time of my life. The party we had when we landed was one of the funnest most hardcore night of partying ever of my life, bar none!
Jon Shoop
January 1, 2010
WOW...what a guy. He was my idol. I followed his offshore racing antics in the old Powerboat Magazine. I saw him at the Miami Resturant that he founded. My sister lived on Normandy Island, just across the bay. I know he lived life...in a big way. RIP Rocky, you are missed.
bob eisele
August 24, 2008
i so admirered mr aoiki - my mom was one of his biggest fans in the power boats -we lived in point pleasant and never missed a race or chance to talk to rocky - my mom has passed and now rocky also-may god bless the two of them -offshore racing has never been the same since rocky stopped driving -now there is another hole in my heart !
christopher
July 26, 2008
My deepest condolences to the family. Rocky was a good friend. I have known him since 1989. He once took me up in his hot air balloon and I was never so afraid in my life! He attended my engagement party in 1999. We have had numerous late dinners together with other friends and sometimes lengthy philosophical discussions. I cherished our friendship and while I lived almost 5,000 miles away, we remained friends. Thank you, Rocky for all the memories, advice and loyal friendship. Chris
CHARMAINE BAILEY
July 23, 2008
I KNEW HIM FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, HE WAS SUCH A SWEET GENTLE MAN ON OCCASION HE WOULD SPEAK OF HIS KIDS AND HE ALWAYS HAVE THIS HEAVENLY SMILE ON HIS FACE. I DID NOT SEEN HIM IN A FEW BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY BUT ROCKY REST IN PEASE...
Bill Harnage
July 22, 2008
I met Rocky while he was in Flagler Hospital in St.Augustine,Fl after he broke his leg in an offshore powerboat race accident. I was an orderly. He asked me to come to New
Jersey to take care of him in his home. Travelling with him was very interesting to say the least. My condelences to the Aoki family. There
will never be "Rocky".
Fritz Theilacker
July 21, 2008
I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Rocky. I was a co-driver with Rocky (Excalibur) in the 1988 One Lap of America. That was an extraordinary experience with an extraordinary man. My deepest sympathy to his family.
Jerome Castle
July 17, 2008
Rocky was like a diamond in a pail of rhinestones. He will be sorely missed.
With deepest sympathy.
Jerry
william castle
July 17, 2008
we had many memories with our family, like when dad invite you for lunch and the driver picked you in the nyc and drove 30 minutes to teterboro to get on dads plane, lunch was in florida. i personally will miss my friend... your friend always and forever !
Toni Potthoff
July 15, 2008
Thank you for all you did for the sport of offshore powerboat racing; you will surely be missed.
New Jersey Offshore Powerboat Racing Association
Gayle Wayne
July 14, 2008
My husband and I knew Rocky many years ago in San Francisco during the 70;s. We loved Bennihanna and Rocky. He will be sorely missed. Our condolences to the family.
Gayl and Phil Wayne
Tony H
July 14, 2008
My first homecoming date was at Benihana's. Thanks for an incredible memory. God Bless.
Johnny Powerlock Powers
Johnny Powers
July 13, 2008
Rocky, my friend since Tokyo 1972, may your "Warrior Spirit" approach to life and your original creative genius flow thru the universe forever !
P. Dieter Baier
July 12, 2008
To the family of Rocky Aoki - my sincere Condolences to you on the loss of Rocky ! - as friends we had some good times together in the 60's. Rest in peace Rocky !
Sandra Birken Fernandez, fan of Rocky & Benihana of Tokyo
Sandra Birken Fernandez
July 12, 2008
To the family of Rocky Aoki:
My sincere condolences to you on the loss of Rocky. I wish I could have known him. He sounds like such a cool guy. I have many treasured memories of family gatherings at Benihana's of Tokyo in North Bay Village with my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles whom are all now deceased. Thanks, Rocky for the memories.
Maurice
July 12, 2008
Rocky had lunch with my family when I graduated college from NYU 20 years ago. I am friends with Kevin. We ate at Bennihanna. He made us feel so warm,welcome and special.
A true visionary and a class act. One of a kind.
D.L. ZIMMERMAN
July 12, 2008
REST IN PEACE, ROCKY AOKI
ANDREA HACKETT
July 11, 2008
THANKS FOR THE WONDERFUL TIMES IN YOUR RESTURANT ROCKY:) YOU WERE SUCH A DOWN TO EARTH PERSON MAY YOUR SOUL FLY WITH THE EAGLES!
Dee Taylor
July 11, 2008
you know it's always sad ,when someone you knows dies ..and someone you don't know you just go on by but someone loved this person and care for him and i never met him but i'm so sorry to hear about your loss and love one leaving this world..... may god bless you and your family Dee Dee Taylor
christen shaughnessy
July 11, 2008
sorry abou your loss
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