Posted on: Saturday, February 5, 2005
Lorraine Murai Mortimer, 67, wife of former UH president
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Staff Writer
Lorraine "Lorrie" Mortimer, the wife of former University of Hawai'i President Kenneth Mortimer, died yesterday morning in Bellingham, Wash., after a long battle with blood cancer. She was 67.
Lorraine Mortimer was considered an exceedingly gracious hostess who described herself as a "nonpaid volunteer for the university." During her years as first lady of the university, she was also involved as a docent at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the Hawai'i Food Bank.
"Lorrie Mortimer was a gracious and passionate advocate for the university, and a dedicated individual who gave selflessly to the university and the community," said UH interim President David McClain.
"She'll be missed by all in the UH 'ohana who had the pleasure of meeting her and being touched by her sincerity and generosity. We extend our deepest sympathies to President Emeritus of the University of Hawai'i Kenneth Mortimer and the entire family."
Lorraine Mortimer had a background in science, earning a bachelor's degree in microbiology and working for several years in a laboratory before their daughter, Lisa, was born.
After Kenneth Mortimer left UH in 2001, the Mortimers returned to Bellingham where they had lived previously and where he had been president of Western Washington University. It was on that campus that she had worked to establish a President's Club.
She had been actively involved in that community and in 1993 was honored with a mayoral proclamation declaring March to be "Lorrie Mortimer Month." At the same time she was declared an honorary special citizen of Bellingham.
At that time she was recognized for her service on the boards of Whatcom Literary Council, St. Luke's Foundation, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Volunteer Health Resources Network, among other community service activities.
Survivors include her husband; daughter Lisa Holman; grandson, David Paul Holman of Lynnwood, Wash.; and nephew, Michael Otsuji, and niece, Teri Kalama of Honolulu. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Hazel (Nakazawa) Murai; and sisters Ernestine Kozuma and Jeanette DeMello.
Donations may be made to the Mortimer Endowment at Western Washington University in Bellingham or the University of Hawai'i, or blood may be donated to a blood bank in her memory.
Those wishing to share thoughts and memories of the Mortimer family can do so by signing a memorial guestbook at www.westfordfuneralhome.com. Westford Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Bellingham, Wash., is handling arrangements.
Mortimer, the former Lorraine Murai, was born and raised in Honolulu and graduated from Roosevelt High School. She met her husband when they were both students at the University of Pennsylvania and returned with him to Hawai'i in 1993 when he became president of the University of Hawai'i.
Lorraine Mortimer
