Dr. Ralph Nji Thomas Takeh was born on January 17, 1950 in Buea, South West Province, Cameroon. He attended elementary school in Limbe, and went on to secondary school at Joseph Merrick Baptist College Ndu from 1964-1969. He completed his nursing degree in Bamenda School of Nursing from 1970-1973. Dr. Takeh began his medical career at Buea General Hospital in 1974, where he was then transferred to Bafoussam General Hospital working as a registered nurse through 1979 . During this time he met the love of his life, Justina Tah, whom he married in December of 1977. They went on to have four children together.
In 1979, Dr. Takeh left Cameroon for the United States in pursuit of better opportunities. He attended Fort Valley State College in Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Science and Zoology with Honors in 1983. He went on to receive his Doctor of Pharmacy at Florida A&M University after moving to Tallahassee, Florida in 1986. His career in Pharmacy began at Mercy Hospital in Miami, FL. It was at this very hospital that he built his foundation, having been an exceptional and devoted employee for the past 27 years. In addition, he worked at other various hospitals such as Mount Sinai, Miami Heart Institute, Cedars, Broward General, and the Memorial Health Care System.
Although Dr. Takeh was a very hardworking individual, family was always his number one priority. He was the type of person that would give his last to assure that his family was well taken care of. As a true example of leadership, Dr. Ralph Takeh was the founder of the Cameroon Association of South Florida and a pioneer member of Mecuda USA. He was excellent in everything he did, thus, he promoted excellence through education. He was a true philanthropist in that he not only opened his home to any and everyone that needed assistance, but he also sponsored children in Njinibi and awarded them with school supplies and scholarships for being exceptional students.
The Lord saw fit to call Dr. Takeh from labor to rest on Sunday February 17, 2013. He leaves to carry on his memories his loving wife Justina, his children Quinta, Aderline, Keith, Charles, Nadege, Roger, his granddaughter Ja’nye, and a host of sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins, and sorrowing friends. Dr Takeh will truly be missed as a loving husband, father, uncle, brother, and friend.