At times like this, I’m reminded of the brevity of human life and my helplessness at the thought of the mystery and misery that a good man is not spared the same fate that befalls evil men.

I cannot bring myself to refer to you in the past tense; so I'd go ahead to state what you mean to me in whatever tense that would mask my disbelief that you've gone on a very long sabbatical leave.

I remember when you came back from one of your previous  sabbatical leaves; you made it a duty to go round all the offices to greet everyone. You did not forget to knock on the door of a lowly ‘Any-Work’ Graduate Assistant like me at that time. You were not one to disparage anybody. You had absolute respect for everyone regardless of class.

You never answered the greetings of the ‘younger ones’ through your nostrils as is common with some of our senior colleagues; you’d wind down your car window to answer anyone.

I saw you as the ‘Epa of all Epas’. You were always full of energy and always had a warm smile and a good heart towards everyone unlike some who perpetually carry the demeanour of a saliva-dripping fiery Bulldog—ready to pounce on every imaginary enemy!!

How can I forget your student-orientated style of teaching? Like ABC, you made me understand metabolic regulation and compartmentation. Your questions were always the simplest to answer because you believed that education should be about impartation of knowledge and not a test of supremacy between students and lecturers with inferiority complex.

I’m glad I knew you as a student, teacher, a colleague and, above all, a mentor. You did not know it, but I learnt how to treat my students as kings from you and Professor George Eriyamremu. Your kind and fatherly disposition to your students and colleagues will forever be etched on my mind.

I won’t say Goodbye to you......You are a good man Professor A.U. Osagie....You are a good man!!!

My uncle was a gentle man in every sense of the word. His dry sense of humour, his carefully measured speech, punctuated with 'you know..." and the fact that nothing ever seemed to phase him added up to a man who was a friend, father, brother,mentor and  inspiration to many. 
He was celebrated for his intelligence, his academic achievements yet he was the most humble of men, unassuming and easily satisfied with the least recognition. In a crowd, he mingled easily with people at all levels and was never too busy to lend a hand, offer advice, give someone a step up, it didn't matter who you were, if he could help, he would.
He was truly an academic giant amoung men but with the heart of gold dedicated to serving and helping others and making the world a better place. He saw each role he did as an opportunity to make a difference, to help shape future generations, to change lives and futures.
Its hard to believe he is gone, the news of his passing will probably never ever sink in. Someone once said "to live in the hearts of those you leave behind is never to die".
If that's true, then Uncle Tony will live forever...he will live on in so many people's hearts  and his fingerprints on each of our lives will never be erased.
Sleep well gentle uncle, adeiu till we all meet to part no more. You leave behind a beautiful legacy, in your wife. children, grandchildren...evidence of a man who lived well, died too early but left his mark permanantly on this world. And all of us who knew you will say..."There stood a Good Man".