Hajime “Jimmy” Hayashi, PhD, age 90, passed away on February 16, 2018, in Novi, Michigan. Beloved husband of Takeko. Loving father of Masako (Mark) Cornett and Keiko (Donald) Muenk. Proud grandfather of Joshua, Christopher and Griffin. Brother to the late Harumi (Toshiko) Hayashi, and the late Sumiko (Yutaka) Ohno; he is survived by his sister, Suzuko (Sadao) Manabe and ten nieces and nephews.
Hajime graduated from Gifu University, Gifu, Japan, in 1948, with his DVM degree. His course in life changed when he worked at Camp Gifu (US military base), where he worked under Colonel Harold MacDonald, who played a pivotal role in Hajime’s opportunity to come to the United States in 1955. Hajime attended Michigan State University, where he earned his BS in 1957, MS in 1959 and PhD in Microbiology and Public Health in 1961. While at MSU, he stumbled upon his “trademark” bowtie. As he was afraid of his ties being burned by the Bunsen burners in the lab, he switched to bowties. Over the years, the bowtie became a part of his image.
Hajime began his 38-year career at Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) (now the Henry Ford Health System), Detroit, in 1961 as the Associate Director of Virology. In 1968, he founded the first histocompatibility lab in the state of Michigan at HFH and became its first director. He co-founded the Transplantation Society of Michigan in 1971 as a member of a Steering Committee. During his career, he focused on transplantation immunology and was involved in more than 2,000 organ transplants which were performed at HFH. In 1997, Hajime was awarded the Distinguished Career Award by the Henry Ford Medical Association “for outstanding contributions to patient care, medical teaching, and scientific achievement”. Upon his retirement in 1999, he was granted the title of “Director Emeritus, Cellular Immunology & Histocompatibility” by HFH, for his achievements as well as for being HFH’s first Director of Histocompatibility. He continued to consult for various transplant teams in both the US and Japan, until 2006.
Hajime was a “true green” Spartan, to the point where he served on the Board of Directors of the MSU College of Natural Science Alumni Association for many years, being elected its president for the 1996 – 1997 term.
Over the years, Hajime served in many capacities in the fifteen scientific societies to which he belonged, some of which he served on the Board of Directors. He has published more than 200 journal articles and lectured as a visiting professor at universities nationally and internationally.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
Gift of Life Foundation
3861 Research Park Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
http://giftoflifefoundationmi.org/to-contribute/
Fox Run Scholarship Fund
c/o Fox Run Department of Philanthropy
41200 Fox Run Road
Novi, MI 48377
A private memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2018, at For Run Retirement Community.
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