Paul Tanaka M.D.

Dr. Tanaka graduated in 1974 from the University of Southern California Medical School. He then went on to work at the LA County General Emergency Room. In 1975 he was recruited to move to Anniston, Alabama Hospital to work in the Emergency room. Little did he know that would be a life changing decision. He met Dr John Moorehouse and soon partnered with him and together they established the Alabama Emergency Room Administrative Services (AERAS). This company contracted with emergency rooms and staffed emergency room physicians across the state of Alabama. In 1983 Dr. Tanaka and Dr. Moorehouse partnered with Baptist Hospital and opened Pri Med Urgent Care.In 1989 he founded Unicor Medical, a software developer and publisher of the Easycoder line of medical coding. He loved working as a Medjet physician and transported many people globally while doing this.

He loved to spend his free time fishing, as long as a fishing pole was in his hand he was content. He loved to spend his Saturdays cheering on The University of Alabama football team. He loved to travel internationally and learn foreign customs along with trying their countries food. He was interested in what the world had to offer and actually became a certified scuba diver. He loved baseball and windsurfing also. Most of all he loved his family, he loved watching his sons grow up and become fathers, he loved his grandchildren and the legacy he was leaving behind.

He is survived by his loving wife, Donna Simmons Tanaka; children, Paul Kenneth Tanaka Jr and wife Brittney., Matthew Daniel Tanaka, Michael Riley Tanaka and wife Madison, Jasen Richard Craik; sisters, Judith Tanaka and Joyce Cross; grandchildren, Monroe Tanaka, Sebastian Tanaka, Noelle Tanaka, and Crews Tanaka; niece, Kim Cross and husband Eddie; great-nephew, Austin; step daughters, Lindsay Wishum, Robyn Lott and husband Justin, and Kari Hibbert and husband Jonathan; step grandchildren, Isabella, London, Finley, Mayson, Ezra, Jack, and Scarlett.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul A. Tanaka and Isabell H. Tanaka; brother, Peter O. Tanaka; brother in law, Ken Cross.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation on Thursday, September twenty-ninth, beginning at three in the evening in Heritage Hall at Alabama Heritage Funeral Home, 10505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, Alabama 36117, followed by a Celebration of Life to begin at four in the evening.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AlabamaHeritageFH.com for the Tanaka family.

In lieu of remembrances donations can be made in Dr. Tanaka's name to the Montgomery Humane Society.