Nwabueze Felix C. Okoye ‘Ononenyi’ PhD.
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Okoye, Nwabueze Felix, PhD. ’Ononenyi’ Brockport: Saturday, December 6, 2014. Predeceased by his parents, S. I. and Grace Okoye; sister, Victoria Nwosu. Survived by his wife, Chinwe Okoye; son, Nwabueze ‘Eze’ Okoye; daughters, Nneka, Chika and Ifeoma Okoye; brothers, Hon. Ike ‘Ochendo’ Okoye, Dr. Steve Okoye, Bertram Okoye Esq; sisters, Anene Okoli and Ifeoma Ezeanozie. Dr. Okoye is the founding father of the Department of African and African American Studies at SUNY Brockport where he taught for 44 years. He also was known as the father of the Nigerian Association in the Greater Rochester Inc. He was able to make a tremendous impact on the Rochester community through his dedication as an educator, historian and activist and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Dr. Okoye’s Memorial Service will be celebrated Saturday December 20, 2014 at 4:00 PM at the Turkish Society of Rochester Banquet Hall 677 Beahan Road, Rochester, NY 14624. Interment will be held in Ogidi, Anambra State, Nigeria at a later date. For more information and to sign his online guestbook, visit www.MeesonFamily.com
He was a great man with good heart. He was my big brother. I will miss his eloquence, humor and kindness. May the Almighty God provide for Chinwe, the children and the entire family the heart and the resources to bear this great loss. Dennis Mkpasi
Thanks for creating a classroom environment that allowed me to intellectually stumble and grow. Thanks for pushing me forward and broadening my horizon beyond New York. Peace be with you my friend.
Namaskar!
The African community in Greater Rochester is deeply saddened. Dr. Okoye was our beacon of ancestral conciousness. He was our voice of purpose. He mirrored our thoughts and aspirations. Much courage to his children during this time of grief and transition. Our patriach is gone. He will be sorely missed. Moka – On behalf of the Baobab Cultural Center from Kenya.
An awesome professor! I took his African American History Class also went to the Nigerian Independence Day Celebration. I really enjoyed it and learned so much from him. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Chinwe, I am so sorry to hear of your husbands passing. My prayers are with you and your family. I felt so close to you all when I worked for you at the League and my husband Joe worked on your rental properties. I am so so sorry. He was a Great Man
Chinwe, I am truly saddened at the passing of Dr. Okoye. May God comfort you and your family during this difficult time. I was fortunate to have known this wonderfully opionated man, as my professor, more than 25 years ago. I was also honored to be a part of the first group of students that went to Ghana as part of the African Studies program. That was a revolutionary move and is a testament to his forward thinking. That experience has forever shaped my life and the legacy has continued with my 15 year old daughter’s recent trip to South Africa. Dr. Okoye did not just pass through this life… he impacted it!
Dear Mrs.Chinwe, my prayers are with you and your family during this season of your lives.
Dr. Okoye was a vibrant voice in the College Senate, a supporter of shared governance. We shall miss his voice, opinions and observations.
Dr. Okoye was a wonderful man. He brought much delight when he came into the bank in Brockport to see me. He will be missed.
I am saddened by the news of Dr. Okoye’s death. I reflected on the impact he had on my world view. I took his course, The African Experience, over 30 years ago. I was the only white person in the section of the class I took. Needless to say, times were different and the course took me out of my young comfort zone and was somewhat intimidating at first. Dr. Okoye’s intellect and presence quickly made me confortable. His teachings helped me better navigate and personally address the often uncomfortable racial tension I often encoutered during that era. Instead of avoidance, Dr. Okoye encouraged engagement and conversation. He provided me with an educational experience that contibuted to a pradigm shift in the way I viewed my world and interacted with it. I am thankful for his gift and may Dr. Okoye rest in peace. He did good work during his time in our world.
I took Dr. Okoye’s African American history class my freshman year at Brockport… great class, he was a wealth of knowledge and a great professor. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Amanda DiDio Massogo
I took Dr. Okoye’s ‘Institutional Racism’ course during the Fall of my Freshman year. He was a wonderful instructor, with a BOOMING voice and a passion for the topic of Race, and Race relations. It was great to have him as an instructor.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I took Dr. Okoye’s class, ‘Institutional Racism’ over 30 years ago and what he taught me about the African experience really affected my world views, he really opened my eyes! a great teacher…..Ann Barton Diamond
I will always remember my class with Dr. Okoye in 1974. After having experienced some difficult and strained racial relations during my stint in the US Navy in the late 60’s, his course helped me begin to put race in a broader context historically. I admired this learned and kind man very much. He epitomized what college should be.
My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Dr.Okeye. Nothing in life is ever successful without the corporate efforts of many gifted people who were willing to submit their talent, experience, and passion for a common goal. We are the sum total of all the people we have met , known, and learned from. I am honored to have had the exposure to the thoughts, ideas and perspectives of Dr. Okeye. May he rest in peace, knowing that he finished his race ‘well done’. Linda Mack Simmons
Though I didn’t know Dr. Okoye personally, I was saddened to here of his passing. I will miss the gentle greetings we would exchange in the basement of Edwards Hall as we both were heading to our morning lectures. I will always remember his smile.
It deeply saddens my heart to hear of Dr. Okoye’s passing. I was not fortunate enough to take one of his classes, but I had the pleasure of hearing him give a once lecture. He was a powerful speaker who commanded the attention of the entire room. The way he spoke that day back in February of 1998 has always stayed with me. To my friend Eze Okoye, it has been many years since we have spoken. I pray that your pain passes quickly and that God gives you the strength and love you need to help you and your family get through this difficult time. I hope you also get to read all of these messages as the homage we pay to your father is a true testament to who he was as a man. Eze, You and your family are forever in my family’s hearts and prayers tonight.
Your Friends – Jamal & Victoria Moore
May Felix’s soul rest in perfect peace and may God grant the family grace to bear the loss of there beloved husband and father.
To Dr. Okoye’s entire family, I send my sincere condolences. I was saddened to hear of his passing. Over the last 10 years at Brockport, I had many conversations with Felix about the serious topics we shared a common concern for and sometimes we just discussed the turning of the seasons. We both loved to echo the others laments for the arrival of icy weather. I hear his strong voice even now and will remember his lessons well.
May God grant your family strength and wisdom through this time of mourning. Accept my condolences. remain blessed.
From
Chinyelu Ezuma
Los Angeles
My condolences to your family
To the Okoye’s
Although it’s hard to put in words what hearts would like to say; These thoughts of deepest sympathy go out to your family.
From
Austin Iheke & Family
Buffalo, New York
I took Dr. Okoye’s Institutional Racism class about 25 years ago. While I didn’t always agree with him – he had a passion for what he believed in. That his class is one of the few I remember well (and still talk about) stands testimony to his legacy. Rest in peace sir.
I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Okoye’s passing..i’m only just reading the message. As i student at Brockport in the early 80’s, i eas exposed to Dr. Okoye through his African Dance troupe of which i was a member. This was unusual for me but i thoroughly enjoyed the experience which was made richer by his humble spirit, diligence and inspiration and teachings about all things African. Rest in Peace..
Mavis Johnson-Collie
Really Missed Dr. Okoye, You have made the biggest impact on my life!!!!
May his soul rest in peace at the bossom of thealmighty.
Many blessings to Dr Okoye. A brilliant scholar who challenged the intellect of all who were blessed to be in his presence. Thank you for the precious gifts you imparted. Affectionately, one of your former students — Brockport College, African American Experience course 1981.
Dr Okoye I want to thank you for all the help you gave me and my family. You were more than a Professor you were a Family Member as well as a Mentor. We Thank you
I am so thankful I had Dr. Okoye as a professor and that he was a human being I knew. To be invited to the Nigerian festivities as a student was so special. His teachings had a great impact on me and I hope to be able pass on that knowledge and usefulness. My understanding of history and institutions is vastly improved in scope because of this man. My condolences to Dr Okoye’s loved ones.