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--- Begin Message ---This is sad news. I did not know the gentleman, but the following story from De Anza College where he taught gives more information about him:Source: http://www.lavozdeanza.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/02/03/3e3de14c53f26 Longtime Physics teacher die JAMES SSENGABI, 66 TAUGHT AT DE ANZA FOR PAST 17 YEARS by Daniel DeBolt February 03, 2003 James Ssengabi, a De Anza physics professor for 17 years, died on Jan. 26 in a local hospital. He was 66 years old. Ssengabi is the second faculty member to die within the past two months. History instructor Tom Galindo died of a heart attack in December. Two weeks prior to his death, Ssengabi underwent surgery for a cracked tibia and hip replacement. Doctors suspect a blood clot from the recent surgery may have contributed, though the official cause of death is yet unknown. Born in 1936, Ssengabi was originally from Uganda. After serving for the Ugandan Air Force, he left to pursue studies in various parts of the world. He earned his Bachelor's of Science in Finland, his Master's of Science in Canada, his Ph.D. in Sweden, and studied as a post-Doctoral fellow in Canada and Australia from 1978 to 1984. In 1986, Ssengabi started teaching at De Anza where he worked to maintain the highest academic standards. He often spent many hours in his office at night and on weekends preparing for classes. "He was very passionate about what he did," said student Jansen Machado, who was taking Ssengabi's class this quarter. "He was very dedicated to teaching and to De Anza," said Anne Leskinen, Dean of Physics. "A lot of people appreciated him." Ssengabi thought it was important to be a model for his students, and he never failed to wear a suit and tie to work. De Anza piano teacher Anne Poklewski commented that Ssengabi was a private person. As neighbors, they had been friends for two years before they realized they both worked at De Anza. He loved music, including blues and classical, with Bach in particular. He also took great care in maintaining his home. "Every weekend he was always working on his house, making things like cabinets, doing gardening. He built a solarium next to his living room with a glass roof. He wanted to make his house like a sanctuary, a place to relax," said Poklewski. "[Ssengabi] was a religious man who never stopped cultivating a knowledge of science and the arts," said fellow physics professor David Newton, commenting that he also enjoyed philosophical conversations about world issues. Politics, though, may have been a sensitive subject. When Ssengabi left Uganda, his family remained under the Idi Amin regime and he never knew what happened to them. Nevertheless, Newton recalled that Ssengabi was congenial to his colleagues and always ready to laugh, even at his own quirks. "For many years he needed to be called at home to be reminded to adjust his clock for daylight savings time or else he would be late to class the next Monday," said Newton. Another time "he left his car in his garage where it became stranded for an entire spring break because he forgot to take it out before the new concrete was poured in front." Even so, Ssengabi was respected by the De Anza community. "He helped people in need and asked for nothing in return," said Newton. "I never saw him hesitate to help a student learn, no matter how long it took, if he thought they had a desire to learn. There will never be another James Ssengabi." Australia from 1978 to 1984. In 1986, Ssengabi started teaching at De Anza where he worked to maintain the highest academic standards. He often spent many hours in his office at night and on weekends preparing for classes. "He was very passionate about what he did," said student Jansen Machado, who was taking Ssengabi's class this quarter. "He was very dedicated to teaching and to De Anza," said Anne Leskinen, Dean of Physics. "A lot of people appreciated him." Ssengabi thought it was important to be a model for his students, and he never failed to wear a suit and tie to work. De Anza piano teacher Anne Poklewski commented that Ssengabi was a private person. As neighbors, they had been friends for two years before they realized they both worked at De Anza. He loved music, including blues and classical, with Bach in particular. He also took great care in maintaining his home. "Every weekend he was always working on his house, making things like cabinets, doing gardening. He built a solarium next to his living room with a glass roof. He wanted to make his house like a sanctuary, a place to relax," said Poklewski. "[Ssengabi] was a religious man who never stopped cultivating a knowledge of science and the arts," said fellow physics professor David Newton, commenting that he also enjoyed philosophical conversations about world issues. Politics, though, may have been a sensitive subject. When Ssengabi left Uganda, his family remained under the Idi Amin regime and he never knew what happened to them. Newton recalled that Ssengabi was congenial to his colleagues and always ready to laugh, even at his own quirks. "For many years, he needed to be called at home to be reminded to adjust his clock for daylight savings time or else he would be late to class the next Monday," said Newton. "[Another time] he left his car in his garage where it became stranded for an entire Spring Break because he forgot to take it out before the new concrete was poured in front." Even so, Ssengabi was respected by the De Anza community. "He helped people in need and asked for nothing in return," said Newton. "I never saw him hesitate to help a student learn, no matter how long it took, if he thought they had a desire to learn. There will never be another James Ssengabi." Quoting paschal Mawanda Kibuule <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Dear Fellow Ugandans and All Friends, > > It is with very deep sorrow that I report to you the > untimely death of Dr. James Ssengabi. Dr. Ssengabi > died Saturday, January 25, 2003. The cause of his > death is not yet known. He was a professor of physics > at one of the Universities in CAlifornia, USA. > > I was informed of his death, last night, by one of the > Santa Clara County officials. More about his death and > funeral arrangements will be communicated to you > later. > > > Paschal Mawanda Kibuule. > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. > http://mailplus.yahoo.com > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. - Albert Einstein Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/--- End Message ---
