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NYARKU: Dr. Samuel Kwaku Nyarku passed away on August 13, 2018, at the Brandon Regional Health Centre in the presence of his daughters. He was born in Ghana, West Africa, in the village of Ampunyase to David Nyarku and Amelia Nyarku (née Saackey). As a bright, studious young boy, scholarships enabled him to pursue his studies in Ghana, then at Cambridge University in England where he earned his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry, and at the Institut de Chimie in Switzerland where he did his post-doctoral studies. Switzerland is also where he married Roseria Quaidoo in 1980, soon after which they immigrated to Canada for Samuel to begin his career as a university professor. Over the years, he taught and did research at a number of universities, including Memorial University in Newfoundland, Dalhousie and St. Francis Xavier Universities in Nova Scotia, the University of Swaziland and the University of Namibia. But it was in Brandon, Manitoba that he settled with his family when he began teaching at Brandon University in 1984. Brandon remained his home base through his final teaching years with the University College of the North as he travelled to Indigenous reserves and other rural communities across Manitoba to share his love of science. Strong in his faith, Samuel was a devout member of the Catholic Church and was a living example of the virtues of kindness, generosity and patience. These are qualities he shared with family, community, and thousands of students over the years. With these qualities he saw the potential in his students, and was dedicated in his efforts to see them succeed. He is survived by his two daughters, Maria and Emelia, his ex-spouse Roseria to whom he remained close, and a large family abroad, mostly in Kumasi, Ghana, including his siblings, Joe, Alex, Ben, Helena and Mercy.Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, 327-4th Street, Brandon, MB, on Friday, August 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. Christopher Dubois as celebrant. Interment will follow at Brandon Cemetery. Donations in memory of Samuel may be made to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, 327-4th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 3H1.Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com
As published in Brandon Sun on Aug 18, 2018
Condolences & Memories (2 entries)
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I've been saddened by the news of the passing of my very dear Prof Nyarku. He incidentally became my supervisor when he spent a year at KNUST, Ghana. His life thought me very frank lessons; thus to be calm and not despair in the face of storms of life, never to be filled with pride and arrogance in life, never look down on anybody, be respectful to everyone irrespective of their relevance, love and enjoy what I know how to do most, but a few. He made Inorganic Chemistry so easy and enjoyable that I can remember in details most of what he thought, devoid of the time lapse and the fact that I'm not practicing Chemistry for now. His genuine concern for my success kept me at bay when the turbulence of the storms in my life was at its peak. His rich insight in life enabled him to give me wise and practical counsel to keep me going into uncharted territories, with no regrets looking back. I've been lucky to have met this great man on a personal, one-on-one level, and I've been really blessed. The world has lost a gem of a person, so gentle, so generous, so kind, so knowledgeable, so open and approachable, so loving and willing to lend a helping hand to whoever was in need, who made his passion his profession, and his profession, his career. As time and tide go and come, so shall we go, one after the other, but never to return again. The beautiful irony however is that our loss is another's reunion. Though gone over to the better side, I pray we're all consoled for this great loss, especially to the family. Rest in Peace my very dear friend, Prof Samuel Nyarku. - Posted by: Emmanuel Mensah Jnr (My Supervisor) on: Oct 06, 2021
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Very sad to learn of passing away of Dr. Sam Nyarku. I send belated condolences to his family and communities he touched through his kindness. I knew him as an intelligent polite gentleman who genuinely cared for others. MHRIP. - Posted by: Agnes Chitambo (Professional colleague at University of Namibia) on: Feb 04, 2021