Thinking of you.

We will miss you here in Interlibrary Loans

Max, it all seems so surreal that you are gone. It's with a heavy heart that I write this. You were the friend that was always there for us when we needed you and now I find it hard to believe that you won't be around anymore. It's always the kindest, sweetest people that are taken away from us too early. You had so much potential and the world was ready for you to experience it. There are very few people in this world that are as ambitious, driven, smart, but yet kind and humble as you.

Looking back, some of my fondest memories of pharmacy school included you in it. Remember the time you took us to see Conan in New York? Our trip to Washington DC? Our snowboarding trips? Or all the pharmacy conferences/meetings I dragged you to? The Kappa Psi events, study sessions, or just hanging out... you were always looking out for me to make sure I was safe or having a good time.

I just simply want to say thank you. Thank you for being a great friend & human being. For those that have had the pleasure of knowing you, you have touched our lives and our hearts... and for that you will always be remembered. Until we meet again, rest in eternal peace, Max. We love you.

Max,

You are a great friend, mentor and brother. I enjoyed all the time I spent with you, talking about our lives, our dating adventures, discussing books, eating yummy food, and going apartment hunting. I loved the book you let me borrow Angela’s Ashes. You inspired me to read the Judy Blume books you loved as a child. You helped with with my resume and interview. You are a thoughtful, sincere, warm, funny and smart person.

Thank you for your friendship. You will be missed.

Max, Thank you. I honestly don't believe I would be as successful as a pharmacist I am today with out you. You would spend long hours of your free time to help me with residency applications, and become annoyed at my generic answers in my mock interviews with you. Though most times I felt not ready, you were very patient with me and helped me get threw it all. Today, I have completed a year of residency and now working as a clinical pharmacist, very happy with the path i have taken all thanks to you.

Max, you were a mentor to me. I looked up to you and was very inspired by your excitement towards Infectious diseases. I felt as though I picked up the same excitement you had.

I want to let you know that you will never be forgotten, and I hope to pass on the skills and knowledge of pharmacy with the same passion you had with me.

Thank you Max.

Dear Max:
   What a pleasure getting to know you. Max enjoy Heaven,

            Jimmy

I also worked with Max during his all too brief period as the antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist at the VA Greater Los Angles Healthcare System. Max made an indelible impression on all of us for his clinical excellence, focus and patient care and development of systems to improve our stewardship program. In addition, he went far above the call of duty by contributing to our to our multi-site antimicrobial stewardship research studies  His passion for excellence was matched by his sterling personal qualities. He touched many people who sorely mourn his passing.

Max, to this day, I still can't believe you're no longer with us. My heart just absolutely broke when I heard the news. We've been through a lot in our 4 years at Western, and I can honestly say you made my stay in SoCal very entertaining. Who can forget you doing the worm in front of everybody during our trip to Mammoth. 

I never got the chance to say this to you in person, but you influenced my life more than you will ever know. You're generous, free-spirit, incredibly smart, and never fail to put others before yourself. You've impacted so many people through the residency workshops and I just want you to know that I'm proud of all your achievements brother. 

It is true that you're gone way too soon, but you have indeed left a lasting impression in this world Max, and we are all better people for having the pleasure and the honor of knowing you. I'll miss you always my friend.

R.I.P Max. You may have not shown it often but you were such a caring and kind person. I remember during residency applications, even though I couldn't make it to your residency workshop you took the time and helped me via Skype. I wouldn't be where I am at today without your help. You will be missed bro.

I had a hard time sleeping when i found out about your accident. I cant believe someone who i know personally had passed away. It saddens me that you are gone. RIP Max.... you will be missed...

Max, I'm having a hard time believing you're not here. It feels like you are still a text message or phone call away. I wish I hugged you longer the last time I saw you. I've had restless nights since Saturday, trying to digest the reality that you're not here. I had a dream on Saturday. You were in it. I couldn't remember the details except that I saw you in a mirror. I had a dream on Wednesday night. We were at a school dance. We were checking out the food table. I told you, "This is nice." We were mellow and happy. You told me not to be sad.

You were one of my first friends at Western. I've been replaying fond memories of you..like the way you would eat the hard bread crusts to give me the fluffy, soft, white centers, the time you were upset because I wasted 2 hours of your life making you watch Lady in the Water (who knew M. Night Shyamalan made bad movies?), the night we went out on a quest in the middle of nowhere to find Chicago thin crust pizza per Wendy's birthday demand, the way you were so proud of yourself for reading an extra book about receptors over the summer before second year started (it wasn't even assigned!), the night my homemade bernaise sauce did not sit well with you (but you were too nice to complain), our grad night at the club in LA where we were so excited to be done with pharmacy school..we just couldn't wait to move on with our lives. And now I wish we could go back to that time.

You were a gentleman, a true friend, a quirky soul. There is a resonating sentiment amongst your friends/mentees/colleagues that they wouldn't be where they're at without you. I hope you knew the great impact you had on so many lives...just by doing what you loved to do and being who you are.

I won't forget you. I'll see you around in my dreams, dear Friend. I'll think of you when I listen to Johnny Cash.

Omgggg my heart just completely dropped down when I saw what has happened; deeply saddened
You were a great inspiration to all of us in pharmacy school and would always have just the right words to elevate our moods and bring some great laughter
Your hardworking dedicated ways made it an honor being your classmate and groupmate
Some special timeless memories looking through all of our group pics
We had some great fun times buddy
You'll always have a special spot in all our pharmacy hearts
Miss you old friend

I worked with Max extensively at his job with us at the West Los Angeles VA. 

I cannot express how devastated we all are here by his passing. He will be extremely, extremely missed.

In the short time he was with us, he made amazing improvements in our patient care processes and research projects. Beyond being a tremendous clinician, he had a talent in data analysis, manipulation, and display that is exceedingly rare. He had a unique ability to approach projects with a "big picture" mentality.

The night before I heard of his untimely passing, I was talking to my wife on how happy Max seemed with his job over the past few weeks, particularly that he had increased opportunities to teach and mentor pharmacy residents and students and focus on antimicrobial stewardship, two facets of his work about which he was clearly passionate. There were a lot of administrative hurdles he and we had to clear in order to get him to that point, which makes his passing all the more tragic. 

I was only just beginning to know him personally, but his devotion to his family and friends was immediately evident.

He had such a bright, bright future with us, and I'm devastated that I can't see it through with him.

I didnt know you on a personal level but working with you day in day out for 2 months during my residency was awesome man. Although, you tried to be serious all the time you were one of the funniest and smartest pharmacist I have been around. I remember I would always say man if only people knew just how smart you were. I really enjoyed learning about ID from you and I am truly sorry I didnt text you sooner to grab that beer like I had promised. I know you are in a better place but I hope everyone would remember you for the truly genuine and caring person you were. You went above and beyond for my coresidents and I and I will be forever grateful for that. My prayers to your family through this very difficult time. RIP Max.

My heart is heavy and I can't put into words the pain I feel. As I mourn your loss, I'm reminded of the many wonderful memories we made in the last 10 years. Starting with being officers for Western University's chapter of the American Pharmacists Association in 2006 to becoming Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity brothers, to helping me get the Kaiser Drug Education Coordinator Intern position for which you took me under your wing and mentored me to make sure I would succeed. Your selflessness and drive influenced my life so much. You were incredibly driven and ambitious, but you never let it get in the way of your relationships. You were always available to help and never expected anything in return. I always admired you for how you kept it all together so well and made it all look so easy!
I recall a time you spent hours tutoring me for a class I was struggling in (I ended up failing the exam anyway lol). You helped me with my CV and residency applications and coached me through all of my interviews. You were instrumental in my path to a residency program. I remember calling you from my car after a particularly difficult interview, and you let me sit there and vent and tell you all about it, then in your always calm demeanor you helped me refocus and helped me prepare for the next one.
I will cherish memories of you from school, work, all of our travels, meetings and conferences, dinners catching up, nights out and all of your disappearing acts!
Since receiving the phone call of your tragic passing on Saturday, I've been struggling the last several days to come to terms with the fact that you're gone and there won't be anymore next times. I'm going to miss picking up my phone and texting you my Infectious Disease questions when I hit a roadblock with a case at work knowing you'd get back to me right away with an answer. Im going to miss our talks about our career paths and strategies for the next step. I'll never forget all of our long talks about your plans to move back to CA when you were in New Mexico. You had so many plans for the future. I'm going to miss our candid conversations. You always called me out and never let me get away with any BS. I'll always remember you calling me out for all of the stuff I got away with at school and at work. I'll miss the texts from you saying we should go visit the Umemoto babies. I'm going to miss the spontaneous outings and texts saying "let's go to Machu Picchu". I'm going to miss your emails asking me about when I'm available to help with the residency workshop for the EG bros. I'm sorry I waited too long for the "next time". You were always so much better at keeping in touch than I was. You were an easygoing, sincere and genuine friend who really cared about giving back and seeing those around you succeed. I'm sorry I took your friendship for granted in the past few years and thought we had infinite time.

You left us too soon, but not before making a huge impact in the lives of all those lucky enough to have known you. I will miss your laughter, your sense of humor, your fun, spontaneous and kind spirit and most of all, your generous heart. You were not just a colleague, a classmate or a Kappa Psi brother, you were an amazing friend I am greatful to have had.

Max, We miss you! I was looking through all of our old photos, and I remember you were the first one to introduce yourself to me at a Kappa Psi Rush event.

During pharmacy school, you were my role model.  You had competed in the clinical skills and the patient counseling competition, and also served in various leadership roles through all the organizations. You made sure that WesternU was always well representatives at a local, state, and national level. Not only that, but i always fondly remember your competitive edge and how you wanted to win every Quiz Bowl so we could say that WesternU was once again the winner :)

Thank you so much for hanging out with me and my friends when we went to New Mexico, and showing us the proper way to eat BBQ with 2 white wonder bread and layers of pickles!

As the years progress, we mainly bonded through the residency workshop. I remember we were one of the first classes to benefit from your residency workshop.  After an interview, I remember texting you saying I totally bombed it, and you immediately called me to let me know that I did better than I thought I did.  Because of your encouragements, help, and dedication, this is the reason why me and so many Kappa Psi brothers are in the positions we are today.  After I got my residency, I remember we would always tag team in the interview room during the workshop to ensure we could properly quiz and interview the potential candidates. I remember the year you were in New Mexico, you asked me to help coordinated, I gladly stated that I would help, but since Residency workshop was your baby, you hardly let me do anything. I promise you I will try my best to continue the "Residency Workshop - MAX out your potential" and to always encourage people to pursue higher education and represent Western U. 

Thank you so much for being my role model, inspiration, and always representing WesternU.  I miss you everyday!

Love,

Jamie

Max, I haven't seen you since that time you came to San Francisco and we ate that awesome ramen at Katanaya. I took for granted that you would be around forever and I wish I hadn't.

I want you to know that you definitely meant a lot to me. Looking back at my photos brings back such great memories with you. I have documented so many of our shenanigans - in San Diego, New York, Washington D.C, Vegas, Boston, and all over Southern California. Thanks for being there and making our years together so fun. You were there at some of the most craziest/memorable moments of our years together - don't worry, what happens in vegas, stays in vegas. :P

You were always there for me, the kind of person who would do anything for a friend. You were such a kind, generous, and chill guy. I can't recall you once raising your voice or panicking - I think you helped to bring a certain calm that I definitely didn't have :) When I think about the kind of person I want to be, I will think about you - you have many of the qualities I now try to have. When I think of an inspiration to be the person I want to be, I will think of you.

Thank you for teaching me about all-you-can-eat Korean food and for taking my calls when I couldn't remember the name of "that one thing we ate at that Korean bbq place that one time."

Max, you were taken too damn soon. I regret a lot of things and one of them is that we lost touch for a little bit there. I definitely will stop taking for granted that everyone will be around forever. Another thing you taught me.

I'll see you at that next great pong tournament in the sky Max - Joey has had that trophy for way too long.

Love,
Wendy Morimoto
aka Dizzle
aka Godzilla

(I met max at Western University in 2006, we were in the same class, and we joined many of the same organizations. We were in the same "crew" in pharmacy school and also in KY. We travelled a lot together, studied together, hung out a lot, and graduated together in 2009).

Max, I'm so sorry to hear about this.. I always enjoyed our conversations over lunch at choc.. Thanks for listening to me all those times.. You were a very kind and generous person. 

*Max and I first met in a kappa psi function while I was in pharmacy school. He loved to have fun and was a very chill guy. Our paths crossed again at Long Beach Memorial and then again at CHOC. I'm thankful to have known Max and I want his family to know he was loved by many.