Roland John Fuchs

Dr. Roland John Fuchs, 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 2, 2026 in Sherwood, OR, surrounded by family. Born in Yonkers, NY to German immigrants Alois and Elizabeth Fuchs, Roland was gifted with a lifelong passion for reading, travel, seeking and sharing knowledge and hard work.

After graduating as Salutatorian of Roosevelt High School’s Class of 1950, Roland went on to attend and earn undergraduate through post-graduate degrees from Columbia, Clark and Moscow Universities.

In 1958, after being offered a position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii, Roland and his first wife Gaynell journeyed across the Mainland to California where they sold their automobile and secured passage on the next steamship bound for Honolulu.

While raising a family in Honolulu, Roland spent over 30 wonderful years at the University of Hawaii, where he went on to Chair the Geography Department, was an Assistant Dean and retired as Professor Emeritus in 1990. For many years thereafter, Roland retained an office as a Senior Fellow at the University’s East-West Center.

Never one to sit idle, Roland then relocated to Tokyo, Japan where he served as Vice Rector at the United Nations University. It was there that he met his second wife, Sumiyo Noguchi.

In 1994 Roland was then offered a position in Washington, DC where he spent 14 years as the Director of the International START Secretariat. Upon completing his service in DC, Roland then returned back to his beloved Honolulu to be closer to family and to continue his work at the University’s East-West Center.

Roland was also the Vice President, President and Past President of the International Geographical Union and the Secretary-General of the Pacific Science Association.

Roland was more than an avid academic and world traveler, he also loved spending time with relatives, friends (both human and four-legged) and visiting museums, parks and cultural events. He made many long-lasting friendships with fascinating people wherever he ventured.

But Roland’s greatest joy was spending time with his family. Despite the demands of his ever-advancing career, his family came first. Many happy memories were made at favorite places including Bellows Beach, his parents farm in Tivoli, NY, the Waialae Drive-In and the Elks Lodge in Waikiki, where he was a Life Member and frequent visitor. Roland was gifted with not only great intellect but also compassion and a wonderful sense of humor. Roland would always put down whatever book or journal he was studying and join his family when Monty Python or Benny Hill was on TV and guffaw right along with them.

In the mid-1970s he took his family along with him for a six month sabbatical at the National Taiwan University and upon completion of his service there, he took them on a visit to Japan, a

very memorable ride on the Trans-Siberian Railroad (and a much-less memorable flight on Aeroflot Airlines) and visits to friends and family in Czechoslovakia and Germany, ensuring that his children were exposed to the different cultures and peoples that he dedicated his life to aiding through his studies and publications.

Roland also had a knack for locating the best, family-owned, hole-in-the-wall Chinese, Korean and Thai restaurants from Kaimuki to Kaka’ako, where countless delightful memories were made over shared dishes. (The restaurants that allowed patrons to bring in their own cooler of beer earned extra stars in his personal Michelin Guide.)

Roland was preceded in death by his parents, sons Peter and Christopher Fuchs and wife Sumiyo Noguchi. Roland is survived by sister Antoinette Beckett, son Andrew Fuchs (Sheila), close friend and former spouse Gaynell M. Fuchs, daughter-in-law Lima Fuchs, grandchildren Kahekili Fuchs (Amber), Victoria Lahti (Jake), Gaynell Fuchs (Marko Puljic), Zachary Fuchs (Stevie), Christina Fuchs (Isaiah Filoteo), Matthew Fuchs, numerous great-grandchildren, nephews Dr. Thomas Beckett, William Beckett (Stacy) and niece Laurie Beckett Slaughter (Hoke). Roland will be fondly remembered by all who knew him and greatly missed.

As per his wishes, Roland’s remains will be cremated and interred at a later date next to Sumiyo’s at Diamond Head Memorial Park, Ocean View Sites.

Memorial contributions may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, your preferred Animal Charity (Roland loved dogs!) or the charity of your choice.