Toalei Afo

Zoom Link https://zoom.us/j/94189614748 Toalei Afo, 65, surrounded by his family, returned home to the arms of our Heavenly Father on February 2, 2023 after his courageous battle with cancer for the past 13 years. He is our Samoan Superman. Toa was born in Faganeanea, American Samoa on January 31,1958 to Aimiti Mapuolesega Afo and Lauoletema Afo Fa’amaligi. He is the seventh child out of 11. At the young age of 12 Toa moved to California for medical care. He has lived in Florida, Canada, Massachusetts, Arizona, Iowa, and Louisiana. He went to high school in Carson, California and graduated from St. Petersburg High in Florida. He eventually made his way to Utah where he built his home and raised his family for the past 46 years residing in Kearns and South Jordan, UT. At the age of 15 he started traveling with Chief Mapu (uncle) and the Sounds of Polynesia. With his family he learned how to play music including the bass, guitar, drums, all along with singing. Toa was THE BEST entertainer who had charisma and talent shaking out of his leg. He quickly became the star of the show, hosting hundreds of shows throughout the country. Toa is most known for his Elvis impersonation and has been called the “Samoan Elvis”. His travels ended in Utah performing with his family at the Ming and the Hawaiian restaurants. This is where he met the love of his life, Sylvia King, at the age of 19 years old. He spotted her in the crowd with her long blonde hair and she saw him with his silk bell bottoms, platform shoes, and afro hair. He thought she was Marsha Brady and she thought he was someone from the Jackson Five. He serenaded her with Elvis songs most of that evening while Sylvia and her best friend giggled in their seats. His charm worked and she quickly became his “Pricilla”.Toa and Sylvia fell in love and married on January 9,1978 in Salt Lake City, UT. They had their first daughter and then built a home together in Kearns, UT in 1980. There they welcomed two more daughters and raised them there for 22 years. Toa continued entertaining with his brothers and their band Island Time 2 performing for countless luaus, weddings, and more. Along with working at UDOT and West Jordan City where he retired after 25 years of service. In 1982 Toa discovered the game of golf and fell harder for that than he did Sylvia . He spent the majority of his time on the golf course and just couldn’t get enough of it. His time on the course and love for the game grew and grew. He loved it so much that he found a job at multiple courses so he could golf for free. He worked for the county courses until 2022. He was one of the founders of the Utah Islanders Golf Association and tournament chairman for over 30 years and is currently their President. He loved and planned his Friday skins at Fore Lakes. Over the years he would come home with his winnings and take his family to Leatherby’s for ice cream to get his banana split with extra hot fudge and pineapple. Toa had so many opportunities given to him and has made hundreds of lifetime friends because of the game. Toa traveled across the world to events on his bucket list: Junior Ryder Cup, Ryder Cup, FedEx Cup, and The Masters. His greatest accomplishment and most proud moments with the game, came from teaching children. He introduced hundreds of kids through his junior golf program and most importantly his grandchildren. His love of golf was huge but doesn’t even come close to the love for his family and friends. He was everyone’s friend, and everyone was his favorite. He was always bringing a friend to family dinner, making sure someone had a place to eat for Thanksgiving, or inviting people to events he was performing at even if he had nothing to do with the guest list. If the band was playing, you were invited. Toa loved music, golf, and the Dallas Cowboys. He always had a cooler full of treats and a pocket full of napkins. He loved his Trans Am, peanut M&M’s, his trusty Honda, ice water with lots of ice, America and Donald Trump. He was a fierce and loyal friend (or your worst enemy), a brother to all, an amazing husband, the best girl dad and the world's best Poppy. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren more than anything. His favorite things were watching them play golf, playing “hike hike” with the boys, watching them on the football field, cheering for volleyball teams, watching dance and choir performances, going on individual traditional birthday dates, trips to Disney World, Christmas Adam, summer sleepovers, flickering the lights on the porch to say goodbye, weekly family Sunday dinners and giving his baby Maliana her dollars every time he would see her. He loved these babies more than anything. Dad, Poppy, Hun, we will miss you forever. His granddaughter Larissa shared “it doesn’t feel real. I keep thinking he’s with the band, or at the golf course, but in reality he’s at the best family reunion ever.” We love you forever and will wait for the day until we are reunited. Toa is survived by his wife Sylvia, daughters Ku’uipo (Myron Vea), Kassie (Ray Feinga), Kamie (Matina Aiono), and his 10 most favorite people in the world, his grandchildren Kalena, Larissa, Karmen, Nicea, Toa, Elway, (twins) Ray and Moni, Malone, and Maliana, and 7 siblings. He is preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law and three brothers. Funeral services will be as follows: Monday February 13, 2023 There will be no public viewing. Service:12:30-1:30 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 8107 S. 6700 W. West Jordan, UT 84081 Burial: 2:00PM Valley View Memorial Park 4335 W 4100 S. West Valley City, UT 84120 Celebration of Life: Doors will open at 3:00PM Victor's Event Center 2527 S. 3270 W. West Valley City, UT 84119 A special thanks to all of the family and friends who have shown so much love and support to the Afo family and Toa over the years and especially this last month. You know who you are. Big thanks to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Dr. Maughan and Dr.Kokeny who cared for him for 13 years. We will also never forget his number one nurse (his sweetheart) and his best nurse helpers Vainiu Afo and Rosie Afo, we love you! In lieu of flowers donations can be made to his family for expenses to the Venmo account @sylvia-afo

Toalei Afo

January 31, 1958 - February 2, 2023