Seikichi “Sei” Tokuda passed away peacefully at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 2, 2016, after a year of declining health. Sei was married to Miyoko “May” Tokuda for 44 years until her passing in 1999. He is survived by his wife, Pat Folsom (Waitsfield); stepdaughter, Sharon Yandow (Essex Junction); brother, Seiko (California); son, David and partner Linda (California); son, Ray (New Mexico), daughter, Kathleen (Georgia); and other family members in California, Nevada, New Mexico and Hawaii.
Sei was born on August 17, 1930, in Waipahu, Hawaii, the seventh of eight children. He grew up helping on the family farm and was the first in his family to attend college. Sei graduated from the University of Hawaii with a degree in medical technology in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army (medical service) and then earned a Ph.D. in microbiology, University of Washington.
After completing post-doctoral work at Cal-Tech, Sei accepted a position at the University of Vermont College of Medicine to teach and do research in immunology. One of his many publications was titled Immunologic Enhancement of Sarcoma I by Mouse 7-Globulin Fractions, co-author Patricia (Folsom) McEntee, his technician.
In Vermont, Sei and May’s youngest son, Ray, was born. Sei and his family lived in faculty housing at Fort Ethan Allen. He enjoyed introducing his young children to outdoor activities like exploring the woods nearby and fishing below the Winooski dam. They all learned to ski, quite the experience for the Hawaiian-born Sei. His favorite treat was sugar-on-snow, which he found surprisingly similar to Hawaiian-style shave ice. Sei remained forever loyal to Vermont’s treats – maple syrup and sugar, Harrington ham and Cabot cheese.
Sei moved to Albuquerque in 1966, where he was one of the first professors in the newly created UNM Medical School. He taught immunology and did research there until his retirement as chair of the department in 1995. He was also active in many civil rights organizations, serving leadership roles in the Japanese American Citizens League, various Albuquerque Human Rights organizations and Central New Mexico Audubon.
Sei loved to travel. His love of birds, nature and native peoples led him to many places on his bucket list, including New Zealand, Machu Picchu, South Africa and Alaska. Over the last decade and a half, Sei traveled often to Vermont to visit Pat Folsom. They traveled the world birding and were regulars with the Mad Birders.
Throughout the past year, Pat was his constant companion, lovingly caring for him, orchestrating a barrage of medical visits and enabling him to relish the constant stream of friends who came to visit. With Pat by his side, he enjoyed life to the fullest extent possible in his home to the very last day. He often said, “Life is so good and precious. Remember me in the spirit of aloha and mahalo.”
A celebration of Sei’s life will be held on Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at Waitsfield United Church of Christ, 4355 Main Street, Waitsfield, VT. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Mad River Path, P.O. Box 683, Waitsfield, VT 05673 or North Branch Nature Center, Building Fund, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.
