Jai H. Ryu

Jai H. Ryu, professor emeritus of Wake Forest University, Bow-man Gray School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006. Jai was born in Ham-Nam, Korea, on Oct. 27, 1940. In 1959, he came to the United States to attend college. In 1966, he graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S.E. in aeronautical engineering. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Iowa in bio-chemical engineering. Dr. Ryu spent many years at the University of Iowa studying the vestibular system. He continued his work at Bowman Gray School of Medicine as the director of research in the Department of Otolaryngology until he retired in 2000. He was a devoted teacher and remained active as professor emeritus until 2004, training dozens of international fellows. In 2005, he began a second career teaching mathematics at Spring Ridge Academy in Spring Valley, Ariz. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; and his daughters, Juliette, Jessica and Jennifer. He was a loving husband, father, teacher and friend. He touched the lives of all who knew and loved him. A memorial Mass will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church on Link Road.