WILL J. HENDERSON Will J. Henderson, kama'aina in spirit and heart, president emeritus of The Queen's Medical Center and generous philanthropist, died on October 20, 2016. Henderson was 95 years old. Will J." as he was affectionately called, was a legend among Queen's Medical Center employees. Even years after his retirement, they remember him as the president who knew their names. Henderson always asked about their families, attended departmental holiday functions, joined employees in their homes for retirement and birthday parties, and spoke on behalf of employees' families at memorial services. Henderson's commitment to the well-being of each employee was extraordinary. He believed that all his employees were unique and played a valuable role in the success of the Queen's mission. Henderson established three educational scholarship funds at Willamette University in Oregon, the Hawai'i Community Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Honolulu. In 2014, he established the Will J. Henderson Aloha Fund through the University of Hawai'i Foundation, to provide a single scholarship award each year to every third-year medical student at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine. As a major player in Hawai'i's health care sector, he also became involved in the health care industry and education in Hawai'i, Japan, the People's Republic of China, and the Philippines. In recognition of his numerous contributions, the Emperor of Japan awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. Active in his community, Henderson was a charter member of the board of directors and first vice president of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i; president of the Japan America Society of Hawai'i (1983-1985); member of the board of trustees at Willamette University (1981-1993), regent and life fellow of the American College of Health-Care Executives, and member of the board of trustees of the American Hospital Association, president of Rotary Foundation of Honolulu, and president of Hawai'i Health Care Association. Henderson was the first academically trained hospital executive in Hawai'i, and outstanding alumnus of Willamette University. He earned a master's degree in hospital administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and was a Sigma Chi fraternity mentor. Will J. Henderson is survived by his niece, Jeanne Henderson of California and the family of the late Dr. Clifford Kobayashi. He will be missed and remembered by his many friends throughout Hawai'i and the world. Private scattering of his ashes will be planned at a later date. His family requests memorial gifts be directed to the Will J. Henderson Aloha Fund Endowment, attn: Elaine Evans, Director of Development for the John A. Burns School of Medicine, 651 Ilalo Street, MEB 223H, Honolulu, HI 96813. Gifts to the UHF Will J. Henderson Aloha Fund may also be made through a secure server here: http://www.uhfoundation.org/HendersonAloha Arrangements Provided By: Ultimate Cremation Services LLC
WILL J. HENDERSON Will J. Henderson, kama'aina in spirit and heart, president emeritus of The Queen's Medical Center and generous philanthropist, died on October 20, 2016. Henderson was 95 years old. Will J." as he was affectionately called, was a legend among Queen's Medical Center employees. Even years after his retirement, they remember him as the president who knew their names. Henderson always asked about their families, attended departmental holiday functions, joined employees in their homes for retirement and birthday parties, and spoke on behalf of employees' families at memorial services. Henderson's commitment to the well-being of each employee was extraordinary. He believed that all his employees were unique and played a valuable role in the success of the Queen's mission. Henderson established three educational scholarship funds at Willamette University in Oregon, the Hawai'i Community Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Honolulu. In 2014, he established the Will J. Henderson Aloha Fund through the University of Hawai'i Foundation, to provide a single scholarship award each year to every third-year medical student at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine. As a major player in Hawai'i's health care sector, he also became involved in the health care industry and education in Hawai'i, Japan, the People's Republic of China, and the Philippines. In recognition of his numerous contributions, the Emperor of Japan awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. Active in his community, Henderson was a charter member of the board of directors and first vice president of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i; president of the Japan America Society of Hawai'i (1983-1985); member of the board of trustees at Willamette University (1981-1993), regent and life fellow of the American College of Health-Care Executives, and member of the board of trustees of the American Hospital Association, president of Rotary Foundation of Honolulu, and president of Hawai'i Health Care Association. Henderson was the first academically trained hospital executive in Hawai'i, and outstanding alumnus of Willamette University. He earned a master's degree in hospital administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and was a Sigma Chi fraternity mentor. Will J. Henderson is survived by his niece, Jeanne Henderson of California and the family of the late Dr. Clifford Kobayashi. He will be missed and remembered by his many friends throughout Hawai'i and the world. Private scattering of his ashes will be planned at a later date. His family requests memorial gifts be directed to the Will J. Henderson Aloha Fund Endowment, attn: Elaine Evans, Director of Development for the John A. Burns School of Medicine, 651 Ilalo Street, MEB 223H, Honolulu, HI 96813. Gifts to the UHF Will J. Henderson Aloha Fund may also be made through a secure server here: http://www.uhfoundation.org/HendersonAloha Arrangements Provided By: Ultimate Cremation Services LLC
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
