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The Express

The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

Until death, do us part

Laura Toohey-Maeda and her husband Wayne Maeda.Photo courtesy of Sacbee.com
Laura Toohey-Maeda and her husband Wayne Maeda.
Photo courtesy of Sacbee.com

Three days after City College sociology professor Wayne Maeda died Feb. 27 due to complications of cancer, his wife and fellow City College history professor Lorrie Toohey-Maeda died March 2, giving her life for their love when she decided not to fight her own cancer to be with her husband during his last days, according to close family friend Dr. Gregory Mark, a CSU Sacramento ethnic studies professor.

“Seventy-two hours and 45 minutes later, to be exact,” Mark said. “Because [Wayne] died at 10:15 on Wednesday, and [Lorrie] died Saturday at 11.

“[Lorrie] stopped having her treatment actually close to the end when she felt she needed to spend every minute possible with her dear husband and to care for him.”

According to her obituary, Helen “Lorrie” Lorraine Toohey was born June 26, 1948, in Eureka, Calif. She taught history for Los Rios Community College District from 1998 until 2012, mostly at City College.

Wayne Maeda, an adjunct sociology professor at City College since 1989 who also taught at CSU Sacramento for 40 years, “was one of the founding members of the CSUS Ethnic Studies Program, teaching while still a graduate student and developing the Asian American Studies Program,” according to his obituary.

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“[Lorrie] was in such deep despair it was like she shut down,” Mark said. “Her son said she always laughed, but she didn’t laugh on Thursday, the day after Wayne died. [On] Friday she was rushed to the hospital, and [the doctors] said, ‘[Lorrie] won’t make it.’ I couldn’t believe it. And then she died Saturday.”

Mark, a CSU Sacramento’s director of Asian American studies, worked with Maeda for years but their relationship extended beyond work. Mark said he and his family became very close with Maeda and Toohey, considering them family.

“Wayne was a true humble guy, and I miss him dearly,” said Mark. “My supporting Wayne isn’t over. All I can say is…both were really wonderful people. [They] supported each other, loved each other dearly.”

Married in 2008, Maeda and Toohey’s match was one of true love, according to Tatsuno Drake, City College Reprographics Printing Services Operator III, and longtime friend to both Maedas.

“It is a beautiful love story, absolutely,” Drake said. “What I knew of Wayne and Lorrie is that they walked on water. It was obvious that they were deeply, deeply in love with each other.”

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