Search Results

EKOFO -- Sokombe L. Ekofo, 66, resident of Albuquerque, loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, passed away surrounded by his family on January 16, 2011. Ekofo was born on November 10, 1944 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He began his studies in a Catholic Mission of Bokote where he excelled in every subject. The Catholic nuns who taught him knew he had a great gift. In the native African language he was thought of as a genius. Because of his great mind he was on track to become a priest and sent to seminary. He left the priesthood and attended the University of Kinshasa also known as Luvanium. From the European Union he received a scholarship to study in Parma, Italy. He spent five years in Italy before returning to his country and working for the government in many leadership capacities. After several years he received another scholarship from USAID to come to the United States to work on his PhD. in Economics at the University of New Mexico. After completing his masters in economics and achieving a Ph.D. "ABD" status he returned to his country for two years and worked as the chief scientific researcher and university professor. He returned to New Mexico and worked as professor of Economics at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) and was later able to bring five of his 15 children to the U.S to live. Truly a citizen of the world, he spoke several languages including Latin, Greek, French, Italian, English and many African languages. He is survived by children and grandchildren of different nationalities residing in Belgium, Democratic Republic of Congo, Spain, South Africa, and America. His children are Angela Ekofo, Isabelle Ekofo, Yves Ekofo, Sonia Ekofo, Yvonne Ekofo, Patrick Ekofo, Virginie Ekofo, Emmanuel Ekofo, Huguette Ekofo, Reize Ekofo, Maurice Ekofo, Eric Ekofo, Joseph Ekofo, Delphia Wilson and husband Brent, and Rachelle Ekofo; He is also survived by his loving wife Daphne; the mother of his children, Marie-Josee Ekofo; and 23 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Ekofo Benkenya and Bombula Marie and his loving sisters Albertine Nkoso and Monitrice Lokoku. Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m., on Friday January 21, 2011 at Shrine of St. Bernadette Catholic Church 11401 Indian School Rd NE with viewing to begin at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Shrine of St. Bernadette on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., with burial following at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery (the corner of Wyoming and Paseo del Norte). Please visit our online guestbook for Sokombe at: RememberTheirStory.com FRENCH 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500
        Published on: Thu January 20, 2011