UCLA Blood and Platelet Center coordinator dies at 59
By Samantha Masunaga
Nov. 5, 2009 10:43 p.m.
Jaime Rivas, platelet coordinator for the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center, died Oct. 16 in Costa Rica after a short illness. He was 59.
Throughout his 25 years of service at UCLA, Rivas was known for his dedication to his work, eventually founding the platelet program in 1992.
Although the center had always collected platelets, Rivas was influential in setting up a program dedicated solely to platelet collection by organizing donors and ordering specialized equipment.
Since then, the program has grown from four donors a day to 40.
“It was important because a large percentage of platelets are used by cancer patients,” said Fernando Gironas, operations coordinator for the center and one of Rivas’ close friends. “With his dedication, it didn’t take long for people to catch on.”
This level of dedication was evident in Rivas’ relationships with donors.
Prior to the collection procedure, Rivas would explain the process to donors, helping them feel comfortable and welcome in the center, while emphasizing the importance of their donation, Gironas said.
“Blood banking’s number one problem is retention,” he said. “But that’s how he shined ““ he was all about donors and all about helping patients.”
Other coworkers echoed this statement.
“Jaime was a person who asked people to donate and took care of them,” said Linda Goss, director of recruitment at the center. “He was very compassionate … and was a real cheerleader for getting platelets collected.”
His passion for his work also manifested itself at home, as Rivas often discussed goings-on at the center with his family.
“He loved his work,” said Lisa Contrera, Rivas’ sister. “His patients were his life ““ his extended family. He would do anything and everything to ensure a speedy recovery for his patients.”
She mentioned an instance in which Rivas called his mother to ask her to pray for a platelet recipient, a little boy who was very sick.
“He was very passionate about what he did,” she said.
Rivas’ commitment to donors and patients alike was also evident from the outpour of support after news of his death.
“We received 30 e-mails from people,” Goss said. “People were really heartbroken, and lots of people came in and asked where he was ““ lots of people were upset.”
Rivas was born Aug. 10, 1950, in Nicaragua and came to the U.S. after graduating from high school. Upon arrival, he immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps and later the Army, resulting in a 10-year military tenure.
During this time, he attended Fort Sam Houston Academy of Health Sciences in Texas to take an advanced laboratory technician course. After serving for 10 years at the Dwight David Eisenhower Medical Center Clinical Labs in Georgia, he applied for a position as a lab technician at UCLA and moved back to California to be closer to his family, Contrera said.
But despite his different surroundings, Rivas never forgot about his former military career.
“He was extremely proud of his Semper-Fi sign in his office,” Gironas said. “It was a reminder that if you didn’t step up to the plate, the drill sergeant would come out and set you straight.”
Goss expressed similar sentiments, especially concerning Rivas’ reputation as a “drill sergeant.”
“He just wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of ““ he had little patience with anyone who was not as committed as he was,” she said.
But aside from work, Rivas was also characterized by his warm personality.
“He was fun and loving,” Contrera said. “He liked to have a good time, and he was always the life of the party.”
She added that her relationship with her brother was close.
“He was always there for me ““ if I had a problem, I went to him.”
Rivas is survived by his mother, Margarita Johnson; stepfather, Charles Johnson; and three siblings, Victor Rivas, Lisa Contrera and Richard Johnson.
