It is with a heavy heart that the UCLA Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies announces the passing of Dr. Keith Terasaki, the chair of the Board of Advisors and a dear friend and mentor to everyone here at the UCLA Terasaki Center and the wider UCLA community.
Following in t footsteps of his father Paul I. Terasaki, the namesake of the Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies, Keith Terasaki dedicated himself to scientific and philanthropic leadership. A double Bruin who graduated from the UCLA College with a B.A. in math/applied science as well as an M.D. from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Keith went on to become an interventional radiologist and chairman of the Terasaki Institute and the Terasaki Family Foundation.
Keith joined the UCLA Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies Board of Advisors in 2016, and became chair in 2020. During his time on the Board, he spearheaded with his wife Cecilia a number of major initiatives for the Center, including the establishment of the Terasaki Centennial Scholars Endowment and the Irene Hirano Inouye Memorial Award. These generous contributions have allowed the Center to increase its support for undergraduate students and highlight the achievements of established professionals in the realm of US-Japan relations.
As chair of the board, Keith was keenly aware of the need to increase the Center's visibility on campus and in Japan, and in 2023 and 2024 he and former Chancellor Gene Block traveled to Tokyo to attend the UCLA Japanese Alumni Association Westwood Alumni Association, foster interaction with members of the Japanese alumni leadership, and organize face-to-face meetings with supporters of both UCLA and the Terasaki Center. Keith’s strong and compassionate leadership was appreciated and loved by not only the Board members of the Center he led, but by all who had the privilege to meet him.
In addition to his work with the Center, Keith made an impressive philanthropic impact throughout UCLA, supporting the Four Deep Student Athlete Scholarships, serving on the Division of Life Sciences Advisory Board, and endowing the Keith and Cecilia Terasaki Presidential Endowed Chair in the UCLA College Division of Life Sciences, among other innumerable contributions.
He was also deeply involved in the local Los Angeles Japanese American community, serving on the boards of community organizations such as Wesley Health Center, Metropolitan YMCA of Los Angeles, Vista Del Mar Children’s Services, Colburn School of Music, Tree People, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Japanese Institute of Sawtelle. He helped facilitate a large donation from the Terasaki Family Foundation to help build Little Tokyo Service Center’s community facility, Terasaki Budokan. Keith was an irreplaceable leader and friend, not only for the Center but for everyone in the UCLA and Japanese American communities and for all of us here in Los Angeles and Japan.