Simo Valentine Simo was born on the 26th of July, 1978 at the Tiko General Hospital. With his mother being a teacher by profession, Valentine started his primary education at Government School, Batoke in Victoria (now Limbe) in 1982 and completed at Government School Muea, in 1982 when his mum was transferred to teach there.

              He started his secondary education at GSS Bokwango (now GHS Bokwango in Buea in 1989), where he was Sanitation prefect and obtained his GCE O‘Level Certificate in 1994. From there, he moved to GHS Tiko (now GBHS Tiko) in 1995, where he spent a year and quit because of the excitement of the news that he had won the American Diversity Visa Lottery which interfered with his plans of obtaining the Cameroon GCE A’Level Certificate. This news however turned sour and led Valentine into business, where he was employed by his uncle, Mr. Thomas Simo at his place of business in Buea Town for four years. Vally later joined his older brother in business, efficiently managing SIMO FASHION, a household fashion shop for more than two years.

              With the zeal to further his education, he moved away from the hustle and bustle of Buea city life to his aunt, Mrs. Justin Menga in Batibo in 2001/2002 academic year where he obtained his A’ Level Certificate. Having been destined to be an American citizen, he again for the second time won the American Diversity Visa Lottery in 2003 and later traveled to the United States of America in 2004.

             Arriving in the USA in the summer of 2004, Valentine immediately had a glimpse of what the American dream was all about. Vally, as most people called him, had to find his way from his port of entry (Washington Dulles International Airport) to the Bronx in New York by bus and Amtrak train to meet a family friend and brother, Mr. Anthony Nguela.

            With advice and guidance from family and friends, Vally wasted no time engaging himself in the healthcare profession. He started out as a Home Health aide (HHA) and in March 2006, he became certified as a Nursing Assistant (CNA) and started working in April 2006 at Isabella Geriatric Center. As a CNA, Vally kept his focus on education, but soon came to realize that the impact he wanted to show the community and in healthcare was not fully found in that field and so he began an Associates program in Nursing, with a focus in Gerontology at Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, Bronx, New York. He worked very hard in his studies and earned a spot in the 29th edition of the National Deans List (2006-2007), and graduated with his Associates degree in Gerontology in January 2007.

           As a young and hard working gentleman, and with the zeal to make ends meet, Vally got into a relationship and was blessed with a son named Samuel Valentine Simo on May 14th, 2007.  As our people will say, “Man proposes but God disposes”. Six months after his son’s birth, Vally became both mother and father to Samuel, that is to say he was given custody of the child, raising him as a single dad with assistance from family and friends, with special help from his Church pastor, Pastor Thomas.

           In 2007/2008, he started attending Merritt Technical Institute, School of Allied Health in Harrison, New Jersey, and despite all the odds against him – financial issues, custody issues, babysitting issues – Valentine graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).  As an LPN, he continued working at the same company, Isabella Geriatric Center, a job he kept until his dying day.

          In March 2011, Vally married the love of his life, Bisoh Chumbow. With the support from his wife, Vally had more time to his credit to continue his studies. On the 31st of May 2012, he graduated from Lehman College CUNY in the Bronx with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN). Two days later he fell sick and was diagnosed with Metastatic kidney Cancer, which led to his tragic death on July 23rd 2012.

        Valentine leaves behind his wife, Bisoh Chumbow, his son Samuel Valentine Simo, his mother Ma Juliana Simo, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, family friends, colleagues and well wishers to mourn him.