Paul Terasaki Memorial Service
A Memorial Service was held on March 6th at Royce Hall at UCLA. It was a marvellous service in memory of a great pioneer in organ transplantation and the tributes were all memorable. Some 1000 people attended. The service started with an opening song by the opera singer, Miss Lova Hyatt, ‘Amazing Grace’, and then the Master of Ceremonies, Fred Katayama, a nephew of Paul Terasaki, introduced the various speakers. The programme started with Paul’s Methodist Minister, Gary Oba, giving the Invocation, and then a number of speakers spoke about his contributions to science and organ transplantation. These included an address by the UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, a video from Tom Starzl, who is no longer able to travel, and then Walter Bodmer, Peter Morris, Mike Cecka, and one or two other friends and colleagues particularly from the Japanese American association. It was, indeed, a fitting Memorial Service to Paul Terasaki and was followed by a reception in the grounds outside Royce Hall. All in all a great occasion, and a celebration of a great man’s career, not only as a scientist but also as a philanthropist.
