Lloyd Fujie, past office managing partner at Deloitte & Touche, chief financial officer and senior vice president at Hawai'i Pacific University and board member of numerous nonprofit organizations, died unexpectedly on his birthday Thursday.

Fujie, 59, was undergoing surgery for cancer when he died.

Friends and co-workers said Fujie was witty, smart, generous, fair, respected and a mentor to many people in his offices and the community.

"He was a man ahead of his time," said Tertia Freas, audit partner at Deloitte who worked for Fujie for 27 years. "He had no biases and was supporter of anyone who was willing to do a good job. He was an unbelievable person to work for."

Freas said even Fujie's competitors admired him. "We at Deloitte will miss him dearly."

Fujie was with Deloitte for 32 years and served as the office managing partner from 1995 to 2005, when he retired. He joined Hawai'i Pacific University in January as CFO and vice president, but was recently promoted to CFO and senior vice president for operations.

He was recognized by the University of Hawai'i College of Business with the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor.

He was past president of the Pacific Club and a member of the Oahu Country Club. He served on the boards of the following organizations: Hoku Scientific, Aloha United Way, Bishop Museum, Chamber of Commerce, Diamond Head Theatre and the Japan-America Society of Hawai'i.

"He was a member of our important finance and audit committee, and his guidance and recommendations were right on target," said Earl Okawa, president of the Japan-America Society of Hawai'i, which promotes understanding among the people of Japan, Hawai'i and the United States.

Fujie had a quick wit and ready smile, Okawa said. Fujie believed in the mission of the society and was very supportive of it for the 10 years he was a member, he said.

"He was just a great person to be with," Okawa said. "I know the society members will miss him very much, as I'm sure the rest of the community will."

In the short year that Fujie was with Hawai'i Pacific University, he helped initiate changes that expanded the school's reach into the community and was to be a leading force in the development of the university's Hawai'i Loa campus, said Rick Stepien, vice president for administration.

"He made some contributions that will be with us for a long time," Stepien said, adding that affiliating with Oceanic Institute was one of the first projects Fujie worked on. "He'll be remembered here for a long time even though his tenure was a short year."

Fujie is survived by his wife, Carol; and two sons, Gregg and Todd.

Services are pending.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.