This memorial website was created in memory of our beloved
Dr. Marcel Ajah. We will remember him forever.
For
nearly a quarter century, Dr. Ajah committed his life to improving
and saving the lives of others. Graduating from the University of
Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine in 1993, he proceeded to the
University of Maryland Medical Center, where he did his internship
between 1993-1994.
In 1995 he began his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Catholic Medical Centers of Brooklyn and Queens, New York, which he completed in the year 2000. By 2003, he became board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and was later inducted a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Dr. Ajah subsequently founded the Women's Medical Healthcare and
Diagnostic, P.C., a thriving private OB/GYN
practice in New York.
Dr. Ajah is a co-founder and President of Uplift Help International, Inc., a 501(c)3 non profit health care mission. Uplift is dedicated to providing multi-specialty primary care to the people of Ishiagu, and more recently expanded their outreach to the people of Ikwo, in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Part of their mission statement includes the provision of “direct relief and assistance to those in need through healthcare screening, pediatric surgery, and the distribution of free medication.” www.uplifthelpinternational.org.
True to it's mission, many can attest to the selfless and tireless service of Dr. Ajah and his colleagues, in providing free medical care during their annual missions to Nigeria.
An Igbo man to the core, Dr. Ajah was one of the pioneers of the Igbo Organization of New York, a patron and immediate past chairman of the board of directors. His tenure as chairman is still reputed to be one of the most active and accomplished eras of the organization. As one past president described him, he was a “heavyweight”, in his commitment to seeing to the progress and upliftment of Ndi Igbo.
Dr. Ajah is blessed with his beloved wife, Jennifer Chinyere Ajah, his children, Nneka, Obinna, Ikenna, Tobechi and the entire Ajah family.
Dr. Ajah's deep sense of tradition, tireless generosity and fear of God, are his enduring legacies to all who who knew him.
All praise and gratitude unto God Almighty for a life well lived !!
Tributes
Leave a tributeMarcel Ajah left a good impression with his family, profession, and friends.
He will be greatly missed. Only God knows when we have learned all that is required before it is time for us to rest. Dr. Ajah is sleeping and
waiting to be reunited with his family.
Thank you for being a respectful, professional, and a friend.
Very nice man.
I and my family condole the amiable, loving wife and the entire Ajah family for this irreplaceable loss. God Almighty will strengthen her in this period of grief
Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
My deepest sympathy goes out to his wife Jennifer and his children.
My condolences to his family.
In peace you rest Dr. Ajah.
Dr Ajah had an excellent bedside manner that this new generation of Drs don't have. You can't learn that in medicine school.That was his personality He cared about his patients I'm glad that I thanked him on how he treated me during surgery I had an appointment with him last summer I missed it I didn't reschedule because I thought I'd see him this month for my annual I'm sorry.Dr Ajah was cool but don't get it twisted if you didn't follow his instructions he got in your tail
Well if anybody ask where is Dr Ajah just say he is one of Gods soldiers gone home. Ajah family may God strengthen you during your time of grieving but remember the Bible says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. HALLELUJAH
It just dawned on me that I only knew you on this earth for twelve years, but those years sure felt like thirty or more, an eternity. Those years allowed us receive and witness your endless acts of friendship, kindness, wise counsel and service to my family and to too many others to mention.
Driven beyond yourself, you were on a mission to serve and sacrifice for as many people as possible and exemplified the selflessness of success. As heartbreaking as your departure feels for so many, we know that God has gained a humble servant.
As certain things must remain beyond human comprehension, it is now as your name “Akachukwu” suggests, in the hands of God that your work on God's green earth be done at this time. Be rest assured however, that you have left a foot print for your family to follow and continue your work in uplifting the human spirit.
We remain eternally grateful for your enduring counsel on life, marriage, children and service to community. As you ascend into the great beyond, it is our unceasing prayer, that God Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, continue to bless you and lead you home with Amazing Grace !
Chijioke Metu for and on behalf of the Metu family
Dr. Marcel Ajah was loving, Caring and exemplified great values. He was a real patriotic Igbo man whose death created a vacuum that is hard to fill.
He touched many lives beyond his immediate family and through his generosity, cared, empowered and made a difference in several people’s lives.
I pray Almighty God to grant all the Ajah’s family and Ndi Igbo the fortitude to bear this loss. As we mourn this loss, we should all find solace that he is resting in peace with God.
May the soul of Dr. Marcel Ajah rest in perfect peace.
Keeping his memory alive, his family and all affected by his death should continue to live those great virtues that he lived and exemplified while on earth.
Please accept our condolences. We share in your grief.
Prince Lemanya
Ajamazi Joshua Kelechi
May God in his infinite mercies grant you, Dr. Marcel Ajah eternal rest.
Ogo di nma, Ezi Ogo Mbaise, Dedicated Husband and Father, Loyal husband to Chi Nwanne m, Beloved Di Chi Nwanne m, laa n’udo.
Chi Nwanne m take heart, it is well in Jesus name!
I have known you for a short time but your memory will forever remain with me. May God comfort Aunty Chinyere, Niki, Obi, Ikenna and Tobi at this difficult time.
Adieu Sir, May God be with you till we meet again by His grace.
Uncle Marcel was a man with a heart of gold. He always put the needs of others before his own. Always giving, forever smiling. I would watch him sometimes and wonder how a person could be so selfless. "Can't he just say NO this time around?" This was one of the thoughts that would cross my mind. He loved life, he loved people and perhaps that was why he chose the profession that he did.
Uncle Marcel had a gift of touching the lives of people he came in contact with even if it was just a brief meeting. My husband, Richard can attest to that. He met uncle Marcel briefly at our traditional wedding and was in Awe. We were later invited to their (uncle Marcel and aunty Chinyere) hotel room after our wedding in January for a chit-chat and got one of the best advice about marriage from a couple who had seen and been through it all. It was a gift my husband and I will forever cherish.
Uncle Marcel inspired so many of us and was an amazing uncle and he will be truly missed. We lost a wonderful uncle, father and husband but God gained an angel.
I also want to express my sincere and heartfelt condolence to my aunty Chinyere and my cousins (Niki, Obi, Ike and Tobi). I can't even imagine how you all feel or what you're all going through. I pray that God grants you all the strength, fortitude and peace during this painful time.
Charles Oligbo, FCA, CBE
To our beloved sister Chinyere and the children, God is still on the throne and is ever ready to shepherd you. Trust in Him with all your heart and be not afraid of tomorrow for He will never fail you.
To all our family, let’s stay prayerful and supportive of our sister and children.
Dr Marcel lived a life of service and God has chosen to take him home sooner than anticipated. May his soul rest in perfect peace!
TO ALL, LOVE IS NOW!!
We often talk about the inevitability of death but when it occurs we are in a shock and surprised. Marcel, your death has robbed us of your incessant kindness, compassion and optimism.You were always magnanimous to people you came in contact with.Your love for your heritage and history propelled you to undertake and partake in many developments and projects for your people in Ishiagu and Ebonyi communities. You were a true and altruistic Patriot and Philanthropist.Suffice it to say that you also worked tirelessly to improve the health of the minorities in New York through your thriving medical practice .
Marcel was proud of his family and children. He loved them and worked hard for them. He always exudes enthusiasm when talking about his family. His children returned this love and did not disappoint him .
Marcel we will miss you and your larger than life smile. How can I forget our Sunday debriefings after Church services during which we discuss family, politics ,sports and medicine among other things. Although we have lost a prince on earth the Heavens have gained an Angel .I have no doubt that you are looking down from heaven and waving to us from one of the gates of heaven.
Adieu,our brother until we meet again
Emeka E.Okeke,MD
Mrs Antonia N. Okeke
On behalf of the Eze R. O. Ekenna Family, I would like to express our condolence to our sister, Chinyere, and her 4 children (Nneka, Obinna, Ikenna and Tobechi): our nieces and nephews, on the sudden loss of their husband and father, our in-law, Dr. Marcel Ajah.
We would also like to express our heart-felt sympathy to Marcel’s own immediate and extended family for this untimely loss of a brother, uncle, mentor and otherwise.
I first met Marcel in 1995, when he paid me a visit in Pascagoula, MS, as the oldest brother to Chinyere, to tell me he was interested in marrying our sister. The formal and big wedding was to take place several months later in Owerri on December 30, 1995.
Freshly graduated from Medical school in 1993, and Internship in 1994, he was just beginning his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) in 1995. These were indeed very busy times for Marcel and Chinyere, even before the children would arrive.
Chinyere would later eventually move (transfer) to the USA (At that time she still had a thriving fashion business and a law practice in Ikeja, Lagos), a resettlement that required major adjustments in both their schedules.
Over the next few years, they would quickly have 4 kids (2 boys and 2 girls) who have been exceptional in their drive for excellence, attending some of the best schools in the country; three of them in College, one already graduated from Berkeley California (Nneka), and Tobechi still in High School.
With all the busy schedule in medical practice and training, it was clear even then that Marcel had a business sense that would manifest in so many ways. He was later to establish his own private OBGYN practice, and later co-found the Uplift Help International, Inc, a non-profit health care mission, operating in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, which he was the President of. These responsibilities required him to travel a lot to Nigeria and elsewhere.
Recently, in the past year he expressed to me the great relief he felt when he was able to drop off the obstetrics part of his responsibilities (relinquishing some of the punishing calls, waiting to attend to unscheduled deliveries); but continue the gynecologic part of his profession, which was easier to manage and schedule.
He and Chinyere had great hopes and plans for their children. We expect that these would not be cut short by his untimely loss. We expect that there will be no changes in those big hopes and plans you (Nneka, Obinna, Ikenna and Tobechi) have had when your Dad was alive; and that you will journey on, and make him proud, and fulfill your dreams.
To our sister, Chinyere, we say “Ndo” from the Family. You know the Family will be there to support you; and to our nieces and nephews, we will be there for you as your Uncles and Aunties. We will be available to support you and mourn with you; but always reminding you that the best way to honor your father is to carry on and succeed in whatever you do.
Feel free to call on us (you will have varying and different close relationships with your various uncles and aunties) whenever needed.
We love you and wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Okechukwu Ekenna
Uncle Okee (Dede Okee)
On behalf of the Eze R. O. Ekenna Family (Marcel’s In-laws)
December 9, 2018
Dear Chinyere,
WHAT A LOSS !!!
We are bereft of words to describe the shock of the news of the passing on of your kind, respectful and altruistic husband, Dr Marcel Akachukwu Aja, to the great beyond.
Marcel was a good and peaceful man, always seeking healing and resolution of conflicts in our family and indeed every where.
He was not loud but he was very very effective in all the numerous good things he did in his short life.
Chinyere, we commit you and your children unto God's protective cover. God will never leave, nor forsake you in all your future endeavours, without Marcel.
God will give you the enablement to continue the good work Marcel and you started together.
May the humble, compassionate, and peaceful soul of Marcel rest in the blossom of Abraham and in the mansion Christ reserved for him in paradise. Amen
Our cherished brother in-law, the sudden news of your sudden passing on to glory ,was a big shock to me.
I still feel like it's not true.
You were a very loving man and unassuming.
Your relationship with our family was an outstanding one and full of love.As I am writing this, I can see your lovely smiles.
My husband and I will never forget your friendship and humility.
Chi and children, we will continue to lift you up before the Lord.
My word to you is from Isaiah 41 vs 13 "for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee , Fear not, I will help thee."
My brother in law, Marcel, continue to rest in the Lord. Amen.
I am so so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to you and your family and may the Holy Spirit comfort you all in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Nice, kind and gentle.
We love you but the Lord love you most.
Rest in the Lord our dearly beloved.
We all really do miss you.
You and the contributions you have made to humanity will be in our hearts always.
We shall continue to remember you in our prayers.
Remain blessed.
Ukeje Gloria nee Anamah
Love always, Daisy
May our good Lord who knows it all comfort and console your dear wife,Nikky and siblings and the entire Ajah family as we mourn this irreparable loss. May your gentle soul rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rest in perfect peace.
Your Sister in law, Chioma
You are terribly missed
Aunty Chi, Niki, Obi, Ik & Tobee, we do continue to support you all in prayers. May the God of all comfort console, strengthen & re-energise you after this has passed & help you to be a source of comfort to all others in Jesus name, Amen!
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