Dr. Osamu (James) Inashima of Woburn, passed away at home on June 6th, D Day. A WWII veteran, having served with the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), he was among 3,000 surviving Japanese American Nisei veterans honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington, DC four years ago.

Born in Seattle, “Jim”, as he was known to his family and friends, lived a life of service. As a high school graduate, he spent a year in the Civilian Conservation Corp as a first aid attendant then pursued his education before and after WWII to earn a PhD in pharmacology. He continued to serve in the Army Reserves as a Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps when he came to Boston as a newly wed, accepting a job as professor of pharmacology and position as chairman of the department of biological sciences with the New England College of Pharmacy, which later merged with Northeastern University. He was honored upon his retirement from Northeastern University, with a scholarship in his name in recognition of his years of teaching and efforts in building their school of pharmacy scholarship program.

Jim was a long time member of the First Congregational Church of Woburn, serving as a trustee, choir member and on several committees over the decades. He was instrumental in the listing of the church building on the National Historic Register of Historical Places.

Jim also served on the Woburn Mass Cultural Council, was a member of the Woburn Guild of Artists, Northeast Rock and Mineral Club, and was an avid gardener of both vegetables and flowers, which he loved to share with friends and family.

He is pre-deceased by Mary E. Inashima his loving wife whom he shared 62 years, and is survived by his son John Harvey Inashima and daughter Jamie E. Inashima of Los Angeles, CA and daughter Cindy Custer and her husband Joseph Custer, Jr. of North Andover, MA and their children Emily and James (JJ) Custer. Jim also leaves behind nieces, nephews, grand nieces, a grand nephew and their children.

Friends and family are respectfully invited to attend a memorial service Thursday June 18th, 11 a.m. at the Woburn First Congregational Church, 322 Main St., Woburn. A private inurnment service will be held at Woodbrook Cemetery Garden Mausoleum. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made in James' memory to the O. James Inashima Scholarship Fund c/o Jennifer Trapp Senior Development Officer, Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Behrakis Health Sciences Center, Room 215, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 [email protected] or to the The Restoration Fund, First Congregational Church of Woburn, 322 Main St., Woburn, MA 01801. He was a Professor, employed by Northeastern University