Frederic Roy Furuya

[New York, New York] — Frederic Roy Furuya passed away peacefully on June 9, 2026, surrounded by his family. Fred was a devoted husband, dedicated father, loving son, and deeply loyal friend. He will always be remembered for his adventurous spirit, lifelong commitment to education, insatiable curiosity, powerful athleticism, and love of life.

Early Life

Born in New York City on October 27, 1955 to Fumiye and Joji Furuya, Fred grew up in the vibrant neighborhood of Washington Heights with his sister Ellen. It was here that he cultivated a community of lifelong friends. A naturally gifted and occasionally wayward student, he attended Stuyvesant High School, graduating in 1973. He went on to pursue his undergraduate education at Brown University, Providence, RI, where he earned a B.S. in chemistry in 1977.

A Life of Service and Love

Driven by an unrelenting sense of adventure and service, Fred joined the Peace Corps following his college graduation. He spent two years serving in Ghana. He went on to pursue a Ph.D. in organometallic chemistry from the University of Minnesota. It was there that he met the love of his life and future wife, Ellen Kaiser. The two were married on August 21, 1982 in Minnesota, beginning a partnership that would span 44 years.

Professional Career and Return to New York

Fred started his scientific career as a postdoctoral fellow at the U of M. He and Ellen then relocated to New York, where he established a career in the scientific and research community. He first brought his talents as a scientist to Brookhaven National Laboratory. Fred went on to co-found Nanoprobes in February of 1994, where he remained a steadfast and dedicated researcher.

Survivors and Services

After a memorable trip to Europe with his wife and friends, he was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Fred spent his last 20 months enjoying retirement and spending time with loved ones. We are forever grateful for the exceptional care that he received at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

In addition to his beloved wife, Ellen Furuya, he is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Furuya, Rachel Furuya and her husband Roland Vaca Jr., and Allison Furuya; his sibling, Ellen Nixon; and a large circle of extended family, friends, and colleagues.

A memorial service celebrating his incredible life will be held on June 17, 2026 at 4:30 at Frank E. Campbell, located at 1076 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028.

Our family requests that all remembrance be made in the form of contributions to MSK Cancer Center, please see below for a direct link.