Alumnus of the Year

SAKAE KUBO, PhD

On May 8, 1926, Sakae Kubo was born to Japanese parents, who were in the dairy business, and was raised on their dairy farm located at the base of Diamond Head on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, with nine brothers and sisters.

Even as an academy student there were indicators of Sakae Kubo’s tendency toward scholarly inclination and academic investigation. His associates knew him as an earnest, conscientious, faithful young man. During his senior year at Emmanuel Missionary College Academy his discerning acumen was demonstrated by his concurrent enrollment in both academy and college courses.

Following graduation from Andrews Academy (EMCA) in 1944, Kubo’s academic pursuits resulted in the awarding of five degrees by 1968, the authoring of 18 books between 1965 and 1999, the writing of numerous articles in religious journals, and the reviewing of scores of books.

His friend and former colleague, Russell Staples, emeritus professor of World Mission, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, recently expressed his regard for Kubo’s scholarship and expertise in library science and stated that he still often uses his Greek-English Lexicon.
Reflecting on his association with Kubo, William Richardson, professor and dean emeritus, Andrews University College of Arts & Sciences, said, “Dr. Kubo was my real mentor in college. I was his reader for three years.”

Leona Running, emerita professor of Biblical Languages, Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, remembers very fondly her years working with Kubo at the theological seminary and speaks of him as a valued teacher and colleague.

After leaving Andrews University in 1978, he continued to work as an educator in the Adventist denomination, serving as the Dean of Theology and a professor of theology at Walla Walla College, president at Newbold College in England, and finally as vice president for Academic Affairs, and academic dean at Atlantic Union College in Massachusetts prior to retiring in 1989. He and his wife, Hatsumi, are continuously involved in the lives of his three children, babysitting for them in times of need and enjoying their 10 grandchildren every chance they get!

Because of his notable contributions to Seventh-day Adventist theological studies through his scholarship, administration and research, and his embodiment of the ideals of this school, Andrews Academy is pleased and proud to name Dr. Sakae Kubo the alumnus of the year.