Dr. Jouko Kalervo Halme, 82, passed away on April 7, 2025, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Born in Helsinki, Finland, in 1942, he pursued a lifelong commitment to advancing women’s health and reproductive medicine. After completing his medical degree at Helsinki University, Dr. Halme moved to the United States in 1977 to continue his training and practice in Ob/Gyn and reproductive endocrinology.

Dr. Halme’s career in the U.S. began at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis before he and his family relocated to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. There, he served on the faculty at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, eventually becoming Clinical Associate Professor. His academic journey later took him to Santa Monica, California, where he was Associate Professor of OB/GYN at UCLA.

Returning to North Carolina, Dr. Halme helped found and direct the North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine and later established his own private practice, Reproductive Consultants in Raleigh. Dr. Halme was passionate about women’s health and helped in research for endometriosis. He was a skilled surgeon who helped many families with infertility issues.

Jouko lived out his passions and his convictions, in addition to his expertise in reproductive medicine. He was humble about his accomplishments. He traveled widely with his wife and family around the world. He loved snorkeling, scuba diving and other adventurous activities. He was an avid home chef and a champion fencer (Southeast Section 1971 in the US, and won many awards from competitions in Finland and around Europe in the 1960’s). He stayed physically active later in life by achieving the rank of black belt in Aikido. His sense of humor, smarts and cool demeanor served him well throughout his life.

Jouko is survived by his wife of 50 years, Anja-Pirkko Halme (Ippis); his three daughters, Kati Chassaignon, Anna Schuckman, and Orvokki Crosby; three grandchildren, Akseli Crosby, Eila Schuckman, and Cooper Schuckman; and sons-in-law Jerstin Crosby and Dane Schuckman. He is also survived by one sister, Silja, and many loving nieces and nephews in Finland. Jouko was preceded in death by his younger brother Esko.