It is with considerable sadness that I write to announce the passing of Dr. Michael Fetters, who succumbed to pancreatic cancer this past weekend. As faculty of the Department of Family Medicine, Mike was known to many as a physician, professor, and friend, a colleague who served as a valued member of our Center for Japanese Studies community for decades in addition to maintaining affiliations with several other units and centers over his long career. He gave generously of his time as a faculty member and medical practitioner, and was consistently a kind, constructive presence when attending CJS events or performing various service roles. I always appreciated Mike’s warm demeanor and genuine interest in our faculty and students’ wide-ranging research, which animated his staunch support of CJS over the years.
As a core member of CJS faculty, Mike served on committees and hosted a number of events from Noon Lectures to special panels. You can find here an article Mike contributed to our CJS Newsletter recounting his own journey to build a career combining study of Japanese culture and medicine: (Winter 2015 issue, page 10) For more information on his career and interests, please follow this link to a memoriam for him from the School of Medicine’s announcement, published in the University Record and linked to our websites, and this link to the memorial page created by the Mixed Methods Program that he co-founded.
The official obituary can be found on the funeral home’s website.
CJS offers our deepest condolences to Dr. Fetters’ family and loved ones, and we wish them solace during this difficult time.
With sincere respect and gratitude for Dr. Michael Fetters' contributions to our community,
Reginald Jackson
Director, Center for Japanese Studies
Professor of Japanese Literature and Performance
