Ann Tanabe Obituary

ANN KAMEYO TANABE It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Ann Kameyo Yamauchi Tanabe on the 26th of January, 2025, after a brave and brief battle with cancer. Ann loved and embraced her family, was a caring and thoughtful friend, and was a dedicated and compassionate co-worker and mentor. She is uniformly remembered for her warmth and intellect and for her uncanny ability to listen carefully and, for anyone who asked for advice, for giving spot-on, concise, and kind direction. Ann had the unique ability to bring people together and support others in a way that was both effortless and selfless. She simply knew who needed to be connected to whom and she was the spark to make it happen. Ann is also remembered for being a powerhouse in the world of biotech and had decades of professionally significant work in her field. For Ann, life began on Oahu, where she grew up with her parents, Sharlene and Roy Yamauchi, and her brother Ryan Yamauchi, who all survive her. Ann is also survived by her dearest aunt, Jeanette Soon, whom she called Auntie Jaye, as well as numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. Ann was proud to attend Punahou School, where she graduated from in 1986. After graduation, Ann moved to Los Angeles to attend Loyola Marymount University. It was in L.A. that Ann met Brett who was attending UCLA.The pair stayed in Los Angeles upon graduation to start their careers. Prior to moving to Houston, Ann and Brett got engaged and married in Honolulu on July 30, 1995. Although the move to Houston was only supposed to be for a year or two, Ann and Brett ended up putting down Texas roots so deep they never left. There Julia was born in 1997, and Lillian, in 2003. At the time of her passing, Ann was the CEO of BioHouston. The company stated that Ann was: "A visionary leader and steadfast advocate for our biotech community. Ann believed deeply in the power of community and the potential of biotechnology to heal and transform lives. She kept patients at the forefront of every effort, knowing that our work could make a profound difference. Under Ann's leadership, BioHouston has thrived as a platform to Convene, Connect, Catalyze, and Curate a dynamic and collaborative life sciences ecosystem. Her unwavering dedication inspired countless innovators and strengthened Houston's role as a hub for life science excellence." Ann was a member of many boards and committees in the Texas Medical Center and adjacent universities. Private services held.