Joel I Ward

Dr. Joel Ira Ward passed away peacefully at his home on December 9, 2024 at the age of 76.

Joel was born in Los Angeles on May 18, 1948 to Anne Sosin and David Ward, attending Dorsey High School and later the University of California, Los Angeles and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

He loved to travel and experience the world and nature, take on physical challenges as an early swimmer and triathlon athlete, and was passionate about domestic and international social justice issues.

Joel is remembered as a distinguished professor, consultant, lecturer, and pediatric infectious disease specialist who contributed tremendously to the field of vaccine research. Most notably, he built a robust and nationally known Center for Vaccine Research as the Director of the UCLA Center for Vaccine Research at Harbor-UCLA, and centrally supported the Liu Research Building at the Lundquist Institute and the creation of the International Vaccine Institute based in South Korea. He had also served on the Board of Goodwill Southern California.

Joel leaves behind his children Daniel, Leora, and Julie; his grandchildren Shiloh and Penelope; and his beloved dog Kibo. He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Ward.

The memorial service will be held at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, CA and livestreamed on Tuesday, December 17 ^th at 10:00 am. All friends and family are welcome. The family asks that donations be made to the Goodwill of Southern California instead of flowers or other gifts.