I'm not anyone, no not just anyone.

— Sammy Davis Jr.

Truly, Corky Trinidad wasn't just anyone.

And his proud defiance to live life on his terms is reflected in his favorite song, "I'm Not Anyone," written by Paul Anka for Sammy Davis Jr.

"It describes him perfectly. He was a very independent person," said Hana Trinidad, his wife of 44 years. No wonder, "I'm Not Anyone," is the song Corky chose to be sung after a traditional Catholic Mass in a service Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Newman Center on the University of Hawai'i campus. It will be sung by his daughter, Pia Sprague.

No, Corky wasn't just anyone. He was a Somebody, although you wouldn't know it by his unassuming demeanor. I've never met anyone with a more brilliant mind, and he was a journalist more than an editorial cartoonist. The guy was a genius.

He also was overly generous in giving away his original drawings, which his subjects would have paid good money to acquire. I have three of them, the one in my den showing Beethoven wearing a Bill Kwon T-Shirt. He did it because he once saw me wearing a Beethoven sweatshirt. That's how his mind worked.

Sometimes, he gave away more than a drawing. If you ever go to the Ala Wai Golf Course, check out the restaurant and look at the mural he worked on at night on his own time for several weeks to honor the late Kelvin Wong. "Corky was proud of it. He said it was the largest thing he ever did," says Wong's widow, Peace. Corky wanted to include her in the mural of Wong and three golfing buddies, but she declined. Being Corky, he spent more long hours, doing a mural of only her on another wall.

Most only knew him through his humorous and satiric insights that ran in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. They always brightened the day for the readers of the afternoon paper. There is a lot less to smile about now that Corky has left us much too soon at the age of 69 after losing the battle with pancreatic cancer. Others — artists, musicians, writers and even politicians skewered by his biting wit — got to know him better and respected his candid views.

Then, there are those who were great friends of Corky, and I am thankful to have been numbered among them. I met Corky 40 years ago when he joined the Star-Bulletin. Even then, Corky often would do two cartoons a day — one for the sports section, obliging whenever asked. I watched his five children grow to wonderful adults. Corky even made me an honorary Filipino by insisting that I be one of the board of directors of the Pamana Dance Troupe, which he and his wife started in 1977.

Pia and Lara — so named after Corky saw Julie Christie in "Dr. Zhivago" — danced with Pamana along with older brother Emmanuel. Pia and Lara (Nishimura) are mothers now, making Corky's two other children, Lorenzo and Anela, uncle and auntie.

Emmanuel was called Manny by all but he also went by another name, "Flip." Family and friends still do, even though it's considered politically incorrect. I remember the mom of one his boyhood friends slapping her son's head for calling him by that name. "But, mom," the boy pleaded, "that's his name!"

Manny still laughs about it and recalls the time Pia also called him by that nickname when they were attending a music class at UH. "What's with your sister, calling you that? No respect or what?" a classmate asked. Manny had to tell him that's what he goes by.

Corky stories could go on and on, as should the continuing accolades for the late, great artist. But I'd like to share a couple about Corky and golf, because he loved the game. Other than a pen, I don't think you'll find anything that Corky relished more holding in his hands than a golf club.

He published a golf book, "The Original Rules of Golf From St. Andrews," illustrating the rules in the first golf game in Hawai'i between King Kamehameha and Captain James Cook. It was well received even by the dour members of the Royal & Ancient.

Only a couple of months before he found out he had cancer, Corky used his IRS stimulus check, after giving half the money to Hana, to buy a new 3-wood to use in a scheduled media Ryder Cup at Ko Olina. I had asked him to join our team against the TV types. He called back a couple of weeks later to apologize, saying he wasn't physically up to it. I should have known something was seriously wrong for him to miss a round of golf.

"He really wanted to play with you. He was so excited to try it (his new club) out," Hana said.

A CAT scan revealed a cancer in his pancreas and he immediately underwent surgery on Thanksgiving Eve at Kaiser Hospital in Moanalua. While in recovery there, he would wistfully look out his window to watch golfers playing the seventh hole at the Moanalua Golf Course, undoubtedly wishing he could be out there with them.

"Hopefully, he's playing nine holes right now," says Pia.

I wouldn't be surprised if he is, besides dashing off another of his creations between holes.

Corky was not just anyone. He was someone truly special. And we're all deeply blessed for having known him.

Bill Kwon can be reached at billkwonrhs@aol.com