By Matthew Wells and Molly Schmidt
The Red Cross Movement and our Hawai’i community lost a visionary leader and friend – Dr. John Henry Felix, PhD passed away early on the morning of May 5, 2025. We proudly honor his legacy and uphold his decades of volunteerism as a titan of humanitarian service. John Henry served the Red Cross for over 80 years, redefining volunteerism by changing lives, paving the way in humanitarian work, winning service awards and establishing a legacy of vision and commitment through a life of service that is irreplaceable. His principals, his deep sense of duty to others and his love of his Hawai‘i roots were fundamental to the man and legend of John Henry Felix. Though we’ve lost a giant, a man whose legacy will stretch long beyond his years, for those lucky enough to have been in his presence and hear his stories of Red Cross history and the impact of affecting everyday lives, his lessons carry on. His spirit and commitment to alleviating human suffering through Red Cross service will always remain. A hui hou, JHF.
John Henry Felix was just eight years old when he began his humanitarian work with the Red Cross. As a third grader in 1938, his first project was to put together care packages for children in China, as the country had been invaded by Japan. This simple gesture of kindness would launch a highly influential and fruitful tenure with the organization that would carry through his life. Dr. John Henry Felix, PhD, was 95 years old when he passed away, leaving an unmatched legacy of philanthropy through his 87 years with the Red Cross.
What brought John Henry to a life of humanitarian work was his family; his grandmother and mother impressed upon him from a young age with the power and need to give of yourself. Volunteering was a natural way to do that, and his continued service throughout his youth and into adulthood led him to join the Hawai‘i Board of Directors in 1956, a position he has held to some capacity ever since.
John Henry Felix’s humanitarian mission has carried him around the world, often on the front lines of emergency response. From civil war in Mozambique to coordinating refugee operations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Macau, Hong Kong and Guam in the wake of the Vietnam War, John Henry brought a genuine desire to help those in need, regardless of circumstance.
No matter how far he traveled, helping Hawai‘i was never far from John Henry Felix’s heart. Hawai‘i born and raised, he never shied away from aiding the Red Cross mission in the islands. His volunteer work was critical in relief efforts like the aftermath of Iniki, in establishing water safety and first aid programs across the state and was instrumental in coordinating the resources to get the property and building where the Red Cross Hawai‘i Chapter has been headquartered since 1974.
Simply put, it was a lot of work. And this kind of work can take a toll. Physically, John Henry Felix sacrificed; at various points he even contacted dengue fever and malaria while working in the rough conditions of post-disaster areas. Emotionally, his work required a heavy personal investment, and it was that weight that John Henry considered a blessing and kept him tied to the Red Cross. He believed in the connections formed between helpers and those who needed help. To him, the work granted a perspective that made it all worthwhile. What he saw was a desire to aid others that united people all over the world.
John Henry called the volunteers of the Red Cross true heroes. He acknowledged their diligence on behalf of those in need despite them never seeking accolades for their work. What better way to honor them than to keep their generous spirit moving forward with new Red Cross institutions? John Henry Felix played a key role in developing National Red Cross Societies throughout the Pacific, including Papa New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji, Western Samoa and the American Red Cross Chapter of the Northern Mariana Islands. His expertise was also requested for the re-establishment of the Red Cross in China.
All of John Henry’s work could not go unnoticed. Throughout his lifetime, he has been elected as a Chapter Chair, a Division Chair, a member of the National Board of Governors as well as the Chair for the National International Committee. Locally, he’s received the Queen Emma Award for humanitarian service; internationally, he has been the only Hawai‘i resident to be awarded the Harriman Award, was the first American to receive the Henri Dunant Medal and was presented with the Medal of Valor and Order of Prince Henry the Navigator from the Portuguese government. From his fellow board members and volunteers, he’s received their trust and friendship.
“John Henry Felix was a special figure in Hawai‘i’s civic and humanitarian landscape,” says Warren K. K. Luke, fellow Red Cross volunteer, Board Member Emeritus, and longtime friend. “His commitment to service, particularly through the American Red Cross, has left an indelible mark on our community. From his early days as a Junior Red Cross member, to his leadership roles as Chapter Chair and Chair Emeritus, as well as on National and International arenas, John Henry exemplified the spirit of aloha and selfless giving. His visionary efforts have strengthened our capacity to serve those in need across the islands and the Pacific. John's legacy will continue to guide and inspire us. On behalf of the American Red Cross of Hawai‘i, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May we all strive to uphold the values he so passionately championed.”
To the Red Cross, the work of Dr. John Henry Felix has left an indelible mark over his eight-plus decades of service. In his own words, he felt “blessed.” While his philanthropy stretched far beyond the Red Cross, his impact has helped define the organization’s presence, both in Hawai‘i and globally, serving as an unwavering ambassador for the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross.
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