Kodjopa Attoh

1944 - 2011

Attoh, Kodjopa

Kodjopa Attoh died peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on February 7th, 2011 at the age of 66 after a long battle with stomach cancer. He was a well respected and extensively published geologist, a loyal and loving father, husband and friend with a passion for soccer, tennis and politics. Kodjopa was the son of Ephraim Attoh and Ellen Bansah of Taviefe, Ghana, born on March 29th, 1944 in Taviefe where he began his schooling. After his middle school education at Bishop Hermann School in Kpando, Ghana, he completed his secondary education at the prestigious Achimota College. He then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science (Geology), a Masters of Science (Geology) and a Ph.D (Geology) from the University of Ghana, University of Cincinnati and Northwestern University, respectively. He returned to Ghana from the United States in 1974 to teach and conduct research at the University of Ghana as a senior lecturer (Assistant Professor) between 1974 and 1978. Thereafter he moved to Ottawa, Canada after successfully competing for a post-doctoral fellowship at the Geological Survey of Canada. Life in Canada was good. He made many lifelong friends there and learned the joys of ice skating on the frozen Ottawa River. But after two years (1978-80) he left to accept a position at Hope College in Holland, Michigan where he worked, married Sandra Greene and began his family. During his years among the Dutch of western Michigan (1981-1993), he regularly hosted the African foreign students enrolled at Hope College and at the theological seminary in town. His enthusiasm for teaching found great expression in leading students on field trips throughout North America and West Africa. Many a student remembers him clambering over outcrops and through road cuts, pointing out how to read the rocky landscape. In demonstrating his excitement about the world's oldest formations, he inspired many students to continue their study of geology into graduate school. This was true wherever he taught. In 1993 he moved to Cornell University where he worked first as an Associate Professor and later as a Senior Research Associate, expanding his record of publications and expertise in the geology of Ghana through collaborative research with colleagues at both Cornell and Syracuse University.

Kodjopa took great pride in his family's accomplishments and constantly preached to his children the importance of doing their very best, especially in school. He was equally passionate about politics, seeking out others to debate and discuss the latest developments in the U.S. and around the world. He empathized with the disadvantage of the world and because of this was an early volunteer with the Durfee Tutoring Project, working with Ithaca students to improve their performance at school. He was also a regular contributor to such organizations as UNICEF and the NAACP, and to development projects in Ghana. His love of travel and his desire to share his passion for geology led him to work at Mekele University in Ethiopia (1997-1998), the University of Kuwait (1999-2001) and back to the University of Ghana on a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship (2002-2004) where he taught geology.

He is predeceased by his parents and his brothers, Albert Okai and Kwame Attoh. He is survived by his wife, Sandra E. Greene; two sons, Kafui and Kwaku Attoh; eleven brothers and sisters; a multitude of nieces and nephews and a host of friends in the United States and around the world, from Austria to New Zealand, from Ghana and Croatia to Ethiopia.

A memorial service to honor the life of Kodjopa Attoh will be held on March 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, 315 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to any of the following: First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund (Please see address above), Hospicare and Palliative Care of Tompkins County, New York, 172 East King Road Ithaca, NY 14850 or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123