TRIBUTE FROM THE KUMORDZIE FAMILY(by Vincent, Beatrice, Kevin, Mercy and the Kumordzie Family)
They say friends are the family we choose. Being chosen by George was one of the greatest moments of my life and when George passed, it was one of the worst moments of my life.
I can still hear the names “WAPU, WAPU”, “AKPANAKU, AKPANAKU”, “WOFO, WOFO” echoing in my ears as George used to call me.
I'm not sure how to do this. It’s impossible to possibly sum up the feelings and memories
I have for someone like George in one tribute.
I’ve received so many messages since the news of his passing last week and have heard from many friends who knew us. We tried to find the right words. Words of happiness about the treasured time we all had with George, although too brief. Words of goodness to describe his individuality and originality- George was always himself. Words of sorrow to try and communicate what we are feeling now that he has left us. The shock.
But maybe most of all words of strength, hope, power, resilience and of tender love. Words that can explain what we just heard and bring us all together, to cross these choppy waters and come out on the other side, better for what we’re witnessing.
For me, George was a fiery spark full of hope, love, inspiration, and determination. He was smart, challenging, empathetic, and encouraging. He always looked to grow; to better himself as a person and as a professional. He was spiritual and worshipped regularly – and one of many events that left a lasting impression on me was when we saw George with the church Choir robed up and singing; prior to that he was the Sunday school superintendent and a Lameman at the church.
He had time for friends and was as selfless as he was determined and left his mark on so many people. As colleagues, he was the best thing that happen to me and we strengthened each other every day we spent together. C’NOVA as was popularly known was a strong, positive and certain man. He was the powerful type of man that we see challenging our society today and I deeply loved that about him. I’m sure members of the GEAAA, an organization he founded here in the NY/NJ area for Ghanaian engineers and Architects in the US have grown to get to know him too.
I never thought of a day such as this would come. We had spoken on that Friday when he checked into the hospital and said he was going to call me back later after he has been attended to. Little did I know that would be the last time we will ever talk again.
He promised coming to Virginia to see us but had to take care of a couple of new projects he was working on. The future held so many plans that cannot be discussed here.
We first met at 6th form at Pope John in Koforidua back in 1980. We clicked instantly as if we’ve known each other for years. George was more of the outgoing and disco guy and I was not. But we got along so well right from the start despite being so different, famously, as the Klan Boys (from the first initial of our last names – Korley &Kumordzie) and were the only 2 from our year group to have made it to Engineering at KNUST. We resided at the same University Hall (Katanga), where C’NOVA as we called him was very popular for all the fun things he did. We were inseparable, except we lost out for a brief period while I was in Russia. But he found ways to keep my wife (then girlfriend), Beatrice encouraged and close by him.
He had so much passion and was so proud of his work. This passion brought about success and his career was already one of note here in New York/NJ in the engineering circles.
He co-authored two editions of the Standard Handbook for Civil Engineering Calculation, formed his own company, Korley Engineers, LLC, joining the ranks of firms and had featured on the local TV news when the schedule for demolishing and replacement of the Tappan Zee (now Governor M. Cuomo) bridge project delayed and became very political. He encouraged and was very supportive at the time of the formation of our company, CKI & Associates, Inc, nearly 22 years earlier and had looked for future collaborations with him in the areas of bridge engineering and construction, which were our mutual fields of specialization.
We shared so many adventures as a group – family beach vacations we had especially when the children came along (they still ask when we’ll do that again), vacation in Ghana together with our families and many more. These memories will forever remain in a George shaped compartment in my heart that will hold him until the day I die.
George valued friendships over anything else. He loved sports and was at his best in company of others where you could talk about Chelsea FC which we both are fans of and other important things. He forged such tight bonds with many people he came across with and I'd like to thank you all for the show of support. But above everyone else came his family, wife Joyce, and children Karen, Klaudia and Konrad. He loved every relative so deeply and without question.
I've lost a lot in losing George, my best friend, brother, and colleague. We had something special that a lot of people never have. I've memories I'll carry with me for my whole life. And
I am sure a lot of you do too. George and I inspired each other, pushed each other, encouraged each other, but he helped me to grow. And that growth won't disappear.
I feel so so lucky to have shared just over 41 years with George. He has left an indelible mark on our lives and we need to honor that with strength and with love. As a friend said this week – we all need to be a little more George. I wondered what George would want from us as we mourn him today.
A celebration of who he was and a sharing of our happy memories of him
A spiritual recognition of who he was - maybe he's watching over us all. Maybe we will see him in another life. He always liked to think there was more than just our life on earth and was certainly convinced through how he lived.
He'd want that we protect each other, call each other, talk to each other and share our grief - be open and care for those hurting.
And most of all he’d want that we try and be positive.
We may have lost him, but God wanted him more. At nearly 59 (which he would have turned 3 weeks from this day) God sees him to be of more benefit to the Kingdom than we do. And as one final way of honoring him I decided to read from the scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “ So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
So Long George, my brother. You will be missed. Rest in Perfect Peace till we meet again.
