Obituary: Stephen Kwame Owusu, 63, Dies in New York

OBITUARY

STEPHEN KWAME OWUSU, 63, DIES IN NEW YORK

By Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr. (Atumpan News Agency)

The death of Mr. Stephen Kwame Owusu (alias “Owusu Continental”), after a brief illness, was reported at the Bronx, New York, Calvary Hospital on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. He was 63 years old.

Born on Feb. 28, 1948 at Old Akyem-Jejeti to Opanyin Kwame Owusu, Gyaasehene of Jejeti, and Obaapanyin Akua Frempomaa, also of Akyem-Jejeti, Mr. Stephen Kwame Owusu attended the Nkawkaw Methodist primary and middle schools, in Ghana’s Eastern Region, between 1954 and 1964.

Shortly thereafter, he moved to the Ghanaian capital of Accra, in 1964, and attended a refrigeration and air-conditioning school, where he was trained and certified as a technician. He then worked under the supervision of his elder brother, Mr. William Kwasi Appiagyei-Owusu, founder and managing-director of SM Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Company Limited.

In 1971, Mr. Kwame Owusu left Ghana for the then-West Germany where he spent four years and finally settled in the United States. A former employee at the world-famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Queens, New York, at the time of his death, Mr. Kwame Owusu worked as a livery cab driver with the Round Town Car Service where he was professionally recognized as number “One-Zero.”

Many of those who knew him quite well described the deceased as genial and benevolent. For instance, Mr. Kwame Adjei (alias “Opuro”), 80 years old, who has known Mr. Kwame Owusu for more than 30 years, and who wept profusely over the phone with this writer, described his friend as “a real human being” who was full of warmth and humility. “He was my brother and my friend. He even introduced me to my present job with the Round Town Car Service.”

The former platoon mate of Gen. I. K. Acheampong, Ghana’s slain former Head-of-State, and a trained military nurse who once worked at the country’s elite 37th Military Hospital, also said that since his friend’s passing, he has tried to locate any individuals who might have been wronged by his late friend in order to apologize on his behalf but have come up short.

Mr. Eric Sarfo (alias “Cpl. Manu”), who met the deceased some 35 years ago but found himself virtually nonplussed, when asked to recall some fond memories about his friend, simply described the late Mr. Kwame Owusu as one who was “very helpful, peaceable and affable.” He added, “We lived together as neighbors at 88 Colgate Street and never had any bitter disagreements whatsoever. One thing I also know about him is that Kwame was a good and loving father.”

Another friend who has known the deceased since the 1960s, in Ghana, said that if anybody went looking for seven good people in the neighborhood, the deceased was highly likely to be among their ranks. The friend, Mr. S. K. Gyamfi, who preferred to be identified as “Kofi Gyamfi ‘Kokofu,’” also noted that there have been two most painful deaths in his life, namely, that of his mother when Mr. Kokofu Gyamfi was just 7 years old, and that of Mr. Kwame Owusu.

Funeral arrangements are as follows: There will be a laying-in-state and viewing of the mortal remains of the deceased at the Ortiz Funeral Home at 2121 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, New York, on Friday, August 26, 2011 from 2pm to 7pm.

Then from 10pm to 4am on the same day, Final Traditional African Funerary Rites would be held at Gauchos Gym at 478 Gerard Avenue, Bronx, New York, between 146th and 149th streets.

The mortal remains of Mr. Stephen Kwame Owusu will be flown to Ghana for wake-keeping, final funeral and burial rites at Akyem-Jejeti, respectively, on Friday, Sept. 23 and Sat., Sept. 24, 2011. The host church of activities will be the Akyem-Jejeti Church of Pentecost.

Surviving the deceased are his eight children: Dr. Jackie Owusu, an Atlanta, Ga.-based internist; Joseph (Baby Joe) Owusu; Steven Owusu, Jr., professional boxer, New York; Devon Owusu, Georgette Owusu, David Owusu, Tasha Owusu, and Joana Owusu, all of New York City. Also his first wife, Mrs. Alice Owusu, and his widow, Mrs. Felicia Nyamekye Owusu.

Mr. Stephen Kwame Owusu is also survived by nine siblings: Ms. Adwoa Donkor Kesewaa, Ghana; Mr. William Appiagyei-Owusu (SM), Ghana; Mr. Steve Owusu-Brefo (Africa), New York; Ms. Elizabeth Osei, New York; Mr. P. K. Owusu, New York; Mr. Daniel Owusu-Kyei, New York City; Mr. Philip Obeng Owusu, New York; Mr. Evans Adom Owusu, Ghana; and Mr. Nicholas Owusu, New York City.

For further information, contact any of the following numbers: R. G. Ortiz Funeral Home: 718-931-1500; 718-406-2780; 917-319-5411; and 347-596-9111. ###