COMMUNITY
James joined the United States Marine Corps’ officer candidate program where he was trained as a Japanese language officer. He subsequently served in Japan in a civilian role as the civil information and education officer on the Fukuoka Military Government Team. In 1947, James entered Pembroke College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar and earned his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. After returning to the United States in 1950, he became assistant to the American Secretary to the Rhodes Trustees. James was recalled to active duty in 1951 and served for seventeen months before leaving the service. He received a D Phil degree from Oxford University in 1955. He then worked in management consultation and consumer research for three years before returning to academia. In 1957, he became provost of the Brooklyn Center of Long Island University in New York City and subsequently Vice President of Long Island University. James became Dean of both undergraduate and graduate schools of arts and science at New York University in 1960 and went on to become the 11th President of New York University in 1962, at the age of 37. As President of New York University, Dr Hester earned a reputation for the role he played in strengthening the university and as a spokesman for urban, private higher education. Following his tenure at NYU, Dr Hester served as Rector of The United Nations University in Tokyo from 1975–1980, President of the New York Botanical Garden from 1980 –1989, and President of The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation from 1989–2004. In later years Dr Hester fulfilled a lifelong ambition and became a professional portrait painter, and had numerous showings of his work. He is survived by his wife, their three children Janet Gerrish, Margaret Giroux, and Martha Stafford ‘79, seven grandchildren and his two siblings.
FRED HIRATA ‘84 passed away on May 21 at the age of 51. He attended ASIJ from 1982 until his graduation.
Obituaries
CHIKAKO HISA (FF ’83–’87, AP ‘78–’86) passed away peacefully early on the morning of August 22, 2017. Chikako was a kindergarten assistant teacher who continued as an active part of the ASIJ community by substituting and volunteering. She also worked each summer for the Summer Passport Program. A ceremony was held on September 2 at Fuchu no Mori. Chikako is survived by her daughter Lisa Soice ‘86.
DONALD ROBERT HUFFMAN (AP ’78–’82, ‘84–’88) of Bristol, IN, and Georgetown, TX, passed away on May 4, 2017 at his home in Bristol. He was 84 years old. He was born on August 7,1932 in Timberville, VA, and graduated from Timberville High School and Bridgewater College, where he played varsity football. He did postgraduate work at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX, and served two years in the US Army at the end of the Korean War. On December 1, 1961, Don married Martha Lou Branham (AP ’78–’82, ‘84–’88) in Beaumont, TX, who survives. Also surviving are two sons and a daughter, Stephen Huffman ‘81, Tamara Gardner ‘83 and Rodney Huffman’88. Don’s career employment was with Miles Laboratories of Elkhart. He started as a salesman in Houston, TX and subsequently moved to the head office in Elkhart where he worked in various positions in Government Business, Product/Marketing Management and International Management in Miles’ Medical Diagnostic Division. In 1978 he moved to Tokyo, Japan, with his family, where he held the position of CEO of Miles-Sankyo Co, a joint venture of Miles/Bayer in the manufacture and sale of medical diagnostics for Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. He returned to the USA in 1993 and retired in 1995. While living in Japan, he was an active member of The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), the Tokyo Foreign Correspondence Club, the Tokyo American Club and served several years as an auditor on the ASIJ Board of Directors. In recent years Don and Martha have enjoyed retirement at their winter home in Sun City, TX, and at their summer home in Bristol.
THE AMBASSADOR \\ FALL/WINTER 2017
77