Jacob Gyan Mensah, (1965 - 2022) - ForeverMissed.com Online Memorials (2024)

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
1 Thessalonians 4:14

Mr. Jacob Gyan Mensah was born in Accra, Ghana to Madam Florence Otabil and Mr. Jacob Kweku Onoma Mensah on June 23, 1965. He was the third child of Mr. Jacob Kweku Mensah’s eight children. As a baby, Jacob became ill with a case of measles which almost killed him. He survived, because of the prayers as well as constant love and attention from his parents. Due to the severity of his illness, it took a while for his mom to wean him from nursing. As a result, he was still nursing when he started talking. When he wanted to be nursed, he would cry and say, “mama tatata dordor!,” which is baby talk in Ga meaning “Mama sit down and nurse me!”

Jacob was a fun-loving, quiet, and gentle person. He avoided conflict, tried to be fair to people, and to walk in other people’s shoes when he had to make difficult decisions. As a young child, Jacob always demonstrated technical prowess when playing. For example, he would collect metal parts and pretend to fix something. Another favorite play of his was to pretend to be fixing a car. He would lie under a table or chair and use whatever imaginary tools he had at the time to “fix” that “car.” Jacob loved cars and traveling and aspired to become a pilot.

As a son of a now-retired Ghanaian foreign service officer, Jacob started traveling at a very early age. His first trip out of Ghana with his parents was in 1971 at the age of six, to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. His subsequent trips under his father’s foreign service postings were to Kampala, Uganda in 1974 and to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1975 where he continued his elementary education and started his high school education at the Stanford English Community School. Ethiopia is where he met his long-time friend Mr. Kierte Amate. They remained friends up to today.

Jacob finished his last year of secondary school education at Ebenezer Secondary School in Accra, Ghana after traveling back to Ghana in 1978 with his family. After graduating from high school, he taught at a private school in Accra and organized private lessons for the neighborhood children in Dansoman, Accra. This time in his life he met Mr. John Sowah and Mr. Tony Edusei, who remained his long-time friends. Before migrating to the United States, Jacob spent a few months in Copenhagen, Denmark where his father was stationed at the time.

Jacob arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1988. Life as an immigrant in the United States was not easy at first, and he performed odd jobs while attending college to support himself. He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Cloud Computing and a Master of Science Degree in Cloud Computing Architecture from the University of Maryland Global Campus. In the subsequent years, he received various certifications in his field.

In the summer of 1993, while in Silver Spring, Maryland, Jacob met Wendy, who was born and raised in the United Kingdom. She was on holiday visiting her aunt when a mutual friend introduced the two, believing they would be a perfect match. This belief turned out to be spot on as they hit it off straight away. Their connection was love at first sight, and they soon became inseparable. After four years of courting, the Ghanaian traditional rites of marriage were performed, which was followed by the tying of the knot at the Justice of Peace.

Jacob and Wendy were blessed with three children. He was a devoted father to his four children, Aaron (deceased), Marissa, Jayden & Ryan. Jacob and his first grandson, Kartier, shared an enviable bond and were often found side by side. He was a loving, protective, and supportive husband to his wife. As a family, Jacob ensured that their Christian faith was at the core of their principles and enjoyed attending Church of the Redeemer together, and fellowshipping with others.

In addition to focusing on his family, he also dedicated himself to an esteemed career. Throughout his life, Jacob worked with high-profile companies in the Washington, D.C. area. At the time of his tragic and untimely passing, he was a Cloud Developer, Senior Advisor at General Dynamics Information Technology. He also worked with Axle Informatics, a bioscience and information technology company. His continued passion for computers, which led to his successful career, was also one of the many areas he bonded with his children over. He would spend hours in conversation with them describing the intricate details of what he was building, ever so proud of his finished work.
Although hard working and ambitious, Jacob made sure he created balance in his work and personal life. In recent years, Jacob developed a passion for gardening, which was evident for all to see as his lawn was kept impeccable and by far the greenest in the neighborhood. Jacob loved traveling both across the U.S. and internationally, to places like London, Denmark, and Bahamas. In the U.S., Jacob liked vacationing in different states, with his favorite destination being Florida, where Jacob and Wendy once contemplated relocating to. For his 50th birthday, he and Wendy went to New Jersey for Jacob to sky dive. That time Jacob expressed that being up in the sky was the most peaceful experience he has ever had.

During the last days of his life, he decided to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a pilot. He aspired to become a private pilot so that he could fly his family on trips. He enrolled in flight school and even flew a couple of flights under his tutor’s guidance. During his last flight, he said it was one of the best experiences he has ever had in his life.

Jacob is survived by his widow (Wendy Mensah) children (Marissa, Jayden and Ryan Mensah) and grandson (Kartier Mensah). He is also survived by his mother (Madam Florence Otabil), his father and stepmother (Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Mensah), seven siblings and a large extended family and friends.

Jacob, God indeed sent you from heaven to us, and He decided it was time for you to return to him. We reluctantly, painfully, yet respectfully accept it. Jacob, we miss you so much.

Jacob kpo, kpo ooo, kpo (Jacob sorry, oh sorry, sorry) – Ga Language
Wor odzogbang (Sleep well) - Ga Language
Da yie (Sleep well) - Fanti Language