Obituary of Hitoshi Thomas Tamaki

Dr. Hitoshi Thomas Tamaki of Plymouth Meeting passed away on July 3, 2015 at his residence. He was 97 years old. Born in Eatonville, WA on October 7, 1917 to the late Seiichi and Tora (Sasaki) Tamaki. He was raised in Tacoma, WA where he attended public schools. He attended the University of Puget Sound where he graduated 1940, cum laude with a B.S. degree. He received partial scholarship to Boston University School of Medicine, graduating in December 1943 with a M.D. degree. Following an internship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Tamaki completed residency training in Pathology at the Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburg, PA and Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. He was certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomical and clinical pathology in 1948. Upon completion of his residency training, Dr. Tamaki was appointed as Director of Pathology at Montgomery Hospital in Norristown, PA in 1948. In addition to being the Director of Pathology, he served as president of the medical staff in 1965 to 1966, a member of the Medical Staff Executive Committee since 1948, its secretary from 1948 to 1963 and Vice Chairman from 1969 to 1993. Dr. Tamaki served as the treasurer of the hospital C.M.M.C. Board of Directors since its inception until his retirement. Dr. Tamaki taught medical students on a part time basis for many years rising to the rank of Associate Professor of Pathology at Jefferson Medical College. He was also a consultant in Pathology at the former North Penn Hospital and the Lansdale Medical Groups as well as the Norristown State Hospital. Although the majority of his time was devoted to his work at Montgomery Hospital, Dr. Tamaki was well known in the local medical community, serving as president of the Montgomery County Medical Society in 1962 and also served on its board of directors for many years. He was also a delegate to the Pennsylvania Medical Society and board member of the Montgomery County Political Action Committee for many years. He was also a member of numerous national, international, state and local medical and pathology societies. Dr. Tamaki was a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, College of American Pathologists, American Society of Clinical Pathologist, International Society of Pathologists, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Montgomery County Medical Society (past president), Pennsylvania Association of Pathologist, American Society of Hematology, Pennsylvania Society of Hematology, Pennsylvania Blood Bank Society, Association of Clinical Scientist (Founding Member), Suburban Pathology Society (Founding Member), American Association of Clinical Chemists. Dr. Tamaki retired from active practice in 1993 after serving as Chief of Pathology at Montgomery Hospital for 46 years. Outside of the medical field, Dr. Tamaki was an active member of the Rotary Club of Norristown serving as past president and as a member of its Board of Directors. In the past, he was chairman of the former Norristown Board of Health (predecessor of the Montgomery County Board of Health), member of the Plymouth Townships' anti-pollution board, Montgomery County Tuberculosis Board and the Delaware Valley Hemophilia Foundation. Other civic and community activities included the local United Fund Board of Trustees, American Red Cross Advisory Board, and the Lebanon Valley College Board of Trustees. He served as the president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Japanese American Citizen League receiving the distinguished Ruby Pin which is awarded by the national board to JACL members who have made unique and exceptional contributions entailing great personal sacrifice. Among the awards and honors Dr. Tamaki received the following: Recognized as one of Montgomery County, PA's outstanding citizens in 1962. Listed in Who's Who in the East, Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International. In 1982, Dr. Tamaki received citations from the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of PA and also from the Montgomery County Commissioners. He also received a letter of commendation from former Governor Thornburgh. Dr. Tamaki received the key to the Borough of Norristown from the former Mayor Marberger with a proclamation of "H. Thomas Tamaki Day" on April 14, 1982. He also received a painted portrait and silver tray from Montgomery Hospital for his many years of service to the hospital and the community. Dr. Tamaki is survived by his wife of over 60 years; Marion Z. (Miyazaki) Tamaki, his four children; Dwight T. (Patricia) Tamaki, Gregory H. (Julia) Tamaki, Karen Tora (Philip) Buescher, and Drew Sei Tamaki, his brother; Tetsuo "Ted" Tamaki, his sister; Shizue "Sue" Sasagawa, and nine grandchildren. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters; Shigeko Yoshiwara, Chiyoko Koiwai, and Yoshiko Nagahashi. Dr. Tamaki lived in Plymouth Township, PA since 1960 and had previously lived in Evansburg, PA for 7 years. He enjoyed gardening, reading, traveling and was a devoted and proud Eagles fan for over 50 years. Relatives and friends invited to his visitation Friday evening, July 10, 2015 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM and Saturday, July 11, 2015 from 11:00 AM – 12 Noon at the Moore, Snear, and Ruggiero Funeral Home 300 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA 19428. A Memorial Service will be celebrated Saturday at 12 Noon at the funeral home. Interment will be private. Memorial donations may be made to: the Tamaki's Scholarship Fund c/o University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.