Luiz K. Fujimoto, MD

Dr. Luiz K. Fujimoto, 60, of Alliance, died peacefully on Monday, April 14, 2008, at the Cleveland Clinic surrounded by his family.

He was born April 14, 1948, in Gar?a, Brazil to Yoshitsugu Fujimoto and Matsumi Takemiya. He received his medical degree from the Universidade de Sao Paulo in 1975, and practiced as a general and cardiothoracic surgeon at the Hospital das Cl?nicas da Universidade de S?o Paulo, Brazil, until 1981, whereupon he moved to the U.S. to conduct artificial heart research at the Cleveland Clinic's Department of Artificial Organs (now a part of the Lerner Research Institute). In 1993, he completed his residency program for general surgery at the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn Queens in New York, and in 1996, moved to Alliance, OH where he practiced as a general surgeon until his death.

Dr. Fujimoto was an avid soccer fan and player, enjoyed animals, music, current events, and tending to his yard. He was a friend and mentor to numerous members of the Japanese and Brazilian student communities at Mount Union College, and was a passionate devotee to his work and above all, to his family. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mieko Fujimoto, two sons, Marcelo Fujimoto of Chicago, IL and Marco Fujimoto of New Britain, CT, four brothers and two sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at Dewald Chapel at Mount Union College with Reverend Marty CashBurless officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, Dr. Fujimoto's family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.leukemia-lymphoma.org).

Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, Alliance, Ohio.