Duke Tanaka, Jr., Ph.D.
University of Chicago; Professor

Duke Tanaka had a quiet pride and passion for his profession as an anatomist and as a neuroscientist. He was an active contributor and integral member of the Department of Anatomy at MSU.

To those who worked with him, he was a friend, colleague, and collaborator. Duke was always available to listen to and help the students, faculty and staff of the department. We could seek him out as a resource for insight, knowledge or a solution to a problem. It was always valuable to get 'his take on things' as his ideas, plans or solutions were always without personal agendas. As an active participant on any committee or project, we could count upon his thoroughness and attention to detail. There was never anything left over for someone else to finish. We as his colleagues came to rely upon him for thorough, conscientious and constructively critical review of manuscripts and documents.

Duke was a man of many talents and interests. He was an avid reader and movie goer, and a 'Duke Review' on all manner of books and films was not only fun, but insightful. He was an unabashed 'rock 'n' roller', and an artistic and meticulous model builder. He was a pure scientist, having a curiosity, love and fascination for areas of science completely unrelated to his chosen profession. His love of reptiles and amphibians was well known to his colleagues; less known was his affinity for very large beetles and gargoyles.

Duke was a man of many achievements and distinctions. But to choose just three aspects of his career that meant the most to him, they would be:

First: His dedication to his science: Duke's early scientific work concerned motor cortical organization in carnivores. Later, he made a successful transition in focus to delineate the effects of toxins on the mature and developing nervous system. A common denominator in this research transition was Duke's proficiency at silver degeneration techniques. His 1974 Brain Research article using a modification of the Fink-Heimer technique has been cited numerous times and serves as a hallmark of his later neurotoxicology work. By utilizing silver degeneration techniques originally developed for tracing neuronal connections in lesioned animals, Duke successfully applied these methods to identify neural substrates made vulnerable to specific toxins and to qualitatively assess this damage in adult and developing brains.

In his short life, Duke had over 95 publications including: journal articles, book chapters, symposia, abstracts and presentations at national and international scientific meetings. In 1995, Duke was awarded the Phi Kappa Phi Excellence Award for his recent scholarship. Duke had been awarded over 22 individual grants for his research, and he mentored many successful and accomplished graduate students. He also served on many scientific professional organizations.

Second: Duke was most proud of his teaching which meant so much to him. He was a most kind and knowledgeable professor. His students loved him and respected him. His list of Excellence in Teaching awards and Teacher of the Year awards spans the period from 1982 to the present.

Third: Duke took great professional pride in his contribution toward developing the modern Department of Anatomy at Michigan State University. After 15 years of hard work, the Department worked so well. Duke was convinced that Anatomy was the cornerstone of the medical sciences. Year after year, he worked diligently for the integrity of the Department, always trying to improve matters and support his colleagues and students. He made us proud to be Anatomists.

Duke helped make each day, a good day. A part of Duke was iconoclastic, a part mischievous, and he helped us all to not take ourselves too seriously at times. His smile and laugh were infectious. He was a truly good man, and we were privileged to have shared his life, his humor, his warmth, and his friendship. Our loss is immense.

All death is tragic, but it hits hardest when its victim is young. However, we can't make the mistake to measure the fullness of a life in years alone. Time wasn't on the side of the man we mourn, Dr. Duke Tanaka, but his life was full, his friends were true and sincere, and his distinctions and achievements were many. We can all be grateful we had him while we did.