Former Honolulu Navy League president Richard "Dick" E. Fahrenwald was a man of few words and many passions, according to those who knew him.

In his 81 years, Fahrenwald served as a WWII Marine cadet, a Navy pilot, a successful car dealer, and a real estate broker and developer.

Fahrenwald, of Kailua, died July 30 after a four-year battle with multiple myeloma.

"He was a patriot and a successful businessman. He was also a wonderful citizen who believed in his community," said longtime friend Ed Carter, of the USS Missouri Association.

Born in Moscow, Idaho, on Aug. 9, 1926, Fahrenwald moved to Honolulu in 1965. He was active in the Navy League for many years, and chaired the organization's national conventions in 1996 and 2003.

"He did all the planning, brought several thousand people to Hawai'i and didn't get paid a penny for it," said Honolulu Navy League executive director Bob McDermott, who described Fahrenwald as a "quiet, gentlemanly leader who would literally give you the shirt off his back."

Fahrenwald, a recipient of the Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award, was inducted into the Navy League Hall of Fame in 2003.

He is survived by wife, M. Eleanor; son, Dave; daughters, Monty Fahrenwald Fullinwider and Joanne Fahrenwald; and four grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held at 9 a.m. today at the Outrigger Canoe Club.