Thomas Ige, the first U.S.-born professor of Okinawan descent at the University of Hawaii, died Aug. 22 at Hale Nani at the age of 85. THOMAS IGE / RETIRED
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROFESSOREducator was active
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By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.comA retired economics professor, he was the author of "Boy from Kahaluu."
He chaired Tom Gill's 1966 campaign for lieutenant governor and his 1970 gubernatorial campaign, and served as U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye's administrative assistant in Washington, D.C., from 1961-63.
"He had a positive and instructive approach to things, a very intelligent guy who liked to know as much as he could about things," said former Gov. Tom Gill.
"Very helpful and calm, and a very likable fellow," Gill said. "Nice to have someone on your side that you can like. It was a great loss to see him go."
Ige was a member of the War Labor Board in 1943 and the National Wage Stabilization Board in Washington, D.C., from 1951-53.
He was also one of the founding directors of City Bank.
During World War II he served as a translator in the U.S. Military Intelligence Service and received the Purple Heart for his service during the Okinawan campaign.
Born in Waipahu and raised in Kahaluu, the son of farmers penned the autobiography "Boy from Kahaluu," chronicling his life from boyhood through his retirement years.
He attended Waiahole School, Central Intermediate School and Mid-Pacific Institute.
He obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii and did graduate work at the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin, earning his master's degree in 1942 and his doctorate in 1950.
World War II disrupted his studies, and Ige joined the service, but completed his graduate work at the University of Wisconsin.
Ige taught from 1947-51 at the University of Minnesota as assistant professor and returned to teach in Hawaii after serving on the Wage Stabilization Board.
Ige played baseball on the Asahi team of the Japanese-American amateur baseball league in Hawaii and coached UH baseball in 1954.
After the war, Ige helped raise funds to support the economic recovery on Okinawa. He was an active member of the Kin Chojin Kai, a Hawaii club with family ties to Kin, Okinawa.
He is survived by wife Hiroko; son Glenn M.; daughter Dianne S.; sister Alice Yoshiko Ikehara; brothers Yasuichi, Kosaburo and Hiroshi; and grandson Jonathan S.
Private services were held. Donations may be made in his memory to Kin Chojin Kai, care of 1743 Kilohi St., Honolulu 96819.