In Memoriam: Dr. Evaristus Emeka Ogu

(Editor's note: The following obituary was submitted to Vienna Patch by the family of Evaristus Emeka Ogu.)

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Chief Dr. Evaristus Emeka Ogu on Friday, July 15, 2016 at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia. His wife of 38 years, Patricia Lipsky Ogu, was with him by his side when he passed. He was a resident of Vienna, Virginia for over 30 years.

Chief Dr. Ogu was born on October 28, 1942, in Aboh Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria. He was the first-born son to John Ogu and Eileen Ulumma Ogu, and became head of the Ogu family in 1970 after his father passed during the Biafran War.

His accomplishments included, but are not limited to, the following:

 In 1960, he passed his West African School Certificate at Trinity High School, Oguta.

 On December 8, 1970, he became a naturalized U.S. Citizen.

 In 1970, he received his B.A. in Sociology from The George Washington University,

Washington, D.C.

 In 1972, he attended the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Police Academy.

 In 1974, he received his Bachelor of Laws and Law Training for Business Leadership

from La Salle Extension University.

 In 1976, he received his M.A. in Adult Education from the University of the District of

Columbia (Federal City College), Washington, D.C.

 In 1982, he received his Ph.D. in General Education from Southwestern University,

Tucson, Arizona.

 On December 23, 2006, Dr. Ogu received his Nze/Chieftancy Certificate in Nigeria. He is referred to as the Enyioha 1 of Umunokwu Okwuato Aboh Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.

Chief Dr. Ogu was a Senior Correctional Officer at Lorton Prison, Lorton, Virginia and was also a Police Officer in Alexandria, Virginia.

Chief Dr. Ogu was a Mental Health Technician at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington, D.C, and then a Mental Health Specialist at the Oak Hill Youth Center, Laurel, Maryland. He later retired from the D.C Government as a Mental Health Specialist at the Department of Mental Health, Washington, D.C.

Chief Dr. Ogu was a selfless man who worked tirelessly to make sure his siblings were educated. That aspiration started when his father, a Court Clerk and assistant Judge in Nigeria during the '50s and '60s, decided to send him to the United States in 1962 for studies. He said his father looked straight into his eyes as he was boarding the plane for the United States and said “educate your siblings so they won’t bug you.” He said that statement continued to haunt him until he started doing something about it.

He sent siblings to USA to attend various universities which gave him the nickname “Our Moses” for he sought the best for his siblings. His motto was “Be educated and be independent.” He extended that philosophy to his cousins, nephews, nieces and family friends. Most families would come to him for advice. He encouraged the building of the Lagwa Secondary School in Aboh Mbaise and he singlehandedly worked to get the school approved by the Imo State Board of Education after all requirements were met. He was loved by many for his aspiration to get his people educated. Each time he travelled back in Nigeria, he would buy new and fairly used clothes to distribute to the less privileged people and he would do that indiscriminately.

He enjoyed playing and coaching soccer, as well as watching Nigeria play in each World Cup. Pele was his favorite soccer player of all time. While attending GW University, he played collegiate soccer for 4 years, and was prominently known to score a goal in each game he ever played in as center half. The GW Colonials won the southern conference for 3 years consecutively. They were so good that they were kicked out from playing again in the Southern Conference since they destroyed the competition.

He loved listening to American country music and African highlife music. His favorite American country musicians were Buck Owens and Dolly Parton. “Sweet Mother” by Prince Nico Mbarga was his favorite highlife song. On New Year’s Eve 1974, he went to the Aba Club to enjoy the concert by Joe Nze, one of his favorite Nigerian musicians. Throughout his life Dr. Ogu enjoyed traveling to various parts of the world such as England, Germany, Italy, France Russia and several African countries. His favorite food was Okra Soup & Garri and his favorite alcoholic beverages were Guinness Stout and African Palm Wine. Every day he watched the local NBC news and the national news on CNN and MSNBC. On Sunday evening he never missed watching “60 Minutes.”

Chief Dr. Evaristus Emeka Ogu is survived by his mother Eileen Ogu, his wife Patricia Lipsky Ogu, and his children, Emeka Ogu, Jr., Anne (Ogu) Liberty, Ellen Ogu and Corinne Ogu and his grandson Milo Liberty and his granddaughter Harley Brown as well as his children Christine Ogu, Susan Ogu and Sarah Ogu, from a previous marriage. Chief Dr. Ogu is also survived by a plethora of brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and many, many extended family and friends too numerous to enumerate here. He will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that monetary donations be made to support his wake keeping and burial. Details will be forthcoming.

Checks can be made payable to: “PATRICIA OGU” and mailed to: Patricia L. Ogu, P. O. Box 326, Merrifield, Virginia 22116-3265

PHOTO: Evaristus Emeka Ogu, family photo