Dr. Leslie H. Higa 1925 - 2003

HIGA, HONG

Posted By: Marguerite (email)
Date: 4/1/2003 at 13:47:17

Iowa City dateline – Photo to accompany text
CR Gazette & IC Press – paid format

Dr. Leslie H. Higa, 77, of 11 Gilmore Court in Iowa City, passed away on March 25, 2003, at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics after an extended illness.

The family will greet friends on Saturday, April 5th from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Iowa City – followed by a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. His ashes will be laid to rest at Punchbowl National Cemetery in Honolulu, Hawaii, at a later date. A memorial scholarship fund to assist dental students at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry has been established. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be directed to the University of Iowa Foundation (c/o The Dr. Leslie Higa Memorial Fund), P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, Iowa, 52244-4550. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City is handling arrangements. 319-338-8171.

Dr. Higa was born October 8, 1925, on the Big Island of Hawaii in the town of Kohala, the son of Shuko & Kame Higa. He joined the United States Army immediately after graduating from Kohala High School and was assigned to the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and was stationed in Okinawa. Dr. Higa was very proud of his military participation and received an honorable discharge in 1946.

Dr. Higa attended and graduated from Grinnell College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953. While at Grinnell, he earned a position on the wrestling team. His love for the Midwest was evident as he pursued and earned his DDS degree in 1960 from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. He earned his Master’s Degree in Oral Pathology from the University of Chicago in June of 1965. He married Lila Hong on September 24, 1961. He joined the University of Iowa Oral Surgery staff in July 1965. He formally retired from full-time work in January of 1993 but returned as Professor Emeritus in the College of Dentistry until the spring of 2002. He served the College of Dentistry for 37 years with pride. His staff at the College of Dentistry said “Dr. Higa was a quiet and caring man. His compassionate nature carried him through in every aspect of his life. He touched the lives of so many dental colleagues, students, residents, and patients. He truly enjoyed interviewing dental applicants and making them feel at ease. He was an avid Hawkeye supporter…”wait until next season”. He will be greatly missed.

Dr. Higa was a member of the American Board of Oral Pathology and a Fellow with the American Academy of Oral Pathology. He received many awards and honors including Instructor of the Year Award, Dental Classes of 1984 & 1985; Distinguished Educator Award from the Dental Alumni in 1981; Outstanding Instructor, Dental Class of 1980 and Dental Hygiene, 1980. He served as a seminarian for The American Academy of Oral Pathology and as a consultant for the Veterans Administration Hospitals in Iowa City and Knoxville, Iowa; served on the Faculty Senate at the University of Iowa from 1973 – 1993; and served and chaired numerous other committees at the University of Iowa. He held office and membership in Iowa Society of Oral Surgeons, American Association of University Professors, American Association of Dental Schools, International Association for Dental Research, Johnson County Dental Association, Iowa Dental Association, and the American Dental Association.

Dr. Higa authored and co-authored numerous papers and articles as well as acted as the advisor several graduate theses.

He is survived by his wife Lila of 42 years; sons, Mark and his wife Jan of Denver, Colorado, Elliott and his wife Barbara and their children Kelsie-Kei and Christopher of Honolulu, and a daughter Elizabeth of Honolulu; brothers, Duane and his wife Hatsuko Higa of Monterey, California, Stanley Higa of West Covina, California, and Tom and his wife Judy Higa of San Francisco, California; sisters, Elsie and her husband Jack Tamashiro of Rosemead, California, and Evelyn and her husband Ezekiel Jittu of Kohala, Hawaii; brother-in-law, Stanley Miyasato and sister-in-law, Yuriko Higa of Hilo, Hawaii; aunts, Chiyo and her husband Mitsugu Hisanaga of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Miyoko and her husband Edward China of Honolulu.

His parents, a sister, Hanae Miyasato, and a brother, Isamu Higa, preceded him in death.

On-line condolences can be sent to www.lensingfuneral.com Please select “sign guest book”.