Internment Camp survivor, Cincinnatian, Physician, and Father.
Dr. Ben T. Yamaguchi, Jr. died peacefully at his home in Indiana on August 3, 2023. Ben was born in Fresno, California to his parents, Ben and Alyce Yamaguchi who preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister Evelyn (Phil) Shiota. He is also survived by his four sons: Robert (Kim), Ben (David), Paul, and Steve (Colleen) Yamaguchi. Ben and his family spent his first eight years of his life living in Dinuba, California. It was a routine childhood until December 7, 1941. Unfortunately, being of Japanese descent, Ben, his parents and his sister were forced into an Internment Camp during World War II. He and his family spent two years interned at the Poston, Arizona site before being released. Cincinnati was the next stop for the Yamaguchi family. They arrived in Cincinnati in 1944, and it would be Ben’s home for the next fifty plus years. Ben grew up in Price Hill, attended Carson Elementary and Western Hills High School.
It was at Western Hills High School that he met his former wife, Nita Bryant, who unfortunately preceded him in death. At Western Hills High School, Ben excelled academically and was a member of Chi Omicron Sigma fraternity. He played football and was on the gymnastics team. The parallel bar apparatus and the rings were his specialties. Ben and Nita attended the University of Cincinnati and received their undergraduate degrees and were married. Ben would continue his education and also graduate from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He then completed his medical internship year at San Francisco General Hospital before returning to the University of Cincinnati where he completed his residency in Pathology.
Ben had a love for Cincinnati and was a leader in many organizations. He worked with Traveler’s Aid and the Cincinnati International Folk Festival and served as its President. The folk festival’s goal was to celebrate cultural diversity and was a fall tradition in Cincinnati in the 1970’s. The festival was a weekend-long event celebrating food, culture and merchandise from countries from around the world. He was past president of the Japanese American Citizens League Cincinnati Chapter. Ben also supported the Boy Scouts and was a member of Dan Beard Council. Professionally he served as President of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Cancer Society, worked for the Hamilton County Coroner’s office as a deputy coroner and taught Pathology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He was a fellow of the College of American Pathologists and member of the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine.
Ben especially enjoyed his time in college at the University of Cincinnati. He was a proud member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, ODK Honor Society and Sigma Sigma Honorary Fraternity. He always was a “loyal child” of the University of Cincinnati and in the 1980’s served separate terms as President of the Medical College and the University Alumni associations. He served as the Medical College Class of 1960 alumni representative for over 60 years.
He was a practicing pathologist for over 35 years serving as the Medical Director of many pathology departments including National Health Laboratories and Hilltop Lab. He was on the medical staff at St. Mary Hospital, Providence Hospital and The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. He consulted at Greenfield Municipal Hospital and Highland District Hospital as well. He was also the Medical Director overseeing the labs at both Brown County General Hospital in Ohio and Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville, Indiana.
It was in Batesville, Indiana where he met his former wife, Annette Gillman, whom he is survived by. Ben spent the past twenty years in retirement doing what he loved best which was playing golf. He never turned down a request for a round and was a member of Western Hills Country Club for 25 years and Hillcrest Country Club the last 25 years. It was not uncommon for him to log over 200 rounds a year. He never forgot a person that he golfed with or met in general. His medical knowledge and general knowledge base were unsurpassed even to his final days. He knew generations of people and somehow recalled everyone’s family tree. Inevitably when any of his sons met someone new and they heard their last name, the boys were always asked the same question. Yamaguchi? Are you related to Ben? Although it was a perpetual question over the years, it was always answered with a prideful response from the boys. “Yes, he’s my dad.” Ben always made people feel like they were his best friend after one encounter.
Ben Yamaguchi overcame an unimaginable childhood in a post war era, became a successful physician, community leader and provider for his family. He enjoyed his life, fine dining, golf, and traveling. Whether it was fine dining at the Maisonette, enjoying a steak at his sons’ former restaurant, Maury’s Tiny Cove , enjoying his Bengals season tickets or Skyline Chili, he made the most of his life. He was well traveled playing golf in Ireland and South Africa. He traveled to Japan with his wife and children in 1977 and made several other return trips later in life. He was especially fond of his last trip to Japan with his son, Paul. He will be most missed by his four surviving sons and also missed by his grandchildren: Brian and Zack Yamaguchi (Rob and Kim), Kathryn, Morgan and Lauren Yamaguchi (Steve and Colleen) and his great granddaughter Nita Yamaguchi (Brian Yamaguchi). He is also survived by many nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces.
Ben will be cremated with a private family service. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to a charitable organization of choice in his honor.
Please feel free to leave a memory or a message of comfort for Ben’s family in the online guestbook at www.meyersfuneralhomes.com.