It was with great sadness that I learned the news about the passing of my long-time dear friend Dikembe. I met him many years ago when he was in the early stages of expanding his longtime dream -- building an affordable, accessible hospital in Kinshasa, the capital of his beloved home country - Democratic Republic of Congo. I knew him best from our humanitarian work connections, than his prowess on the basketball court (of course anyone who loves basketball, like I do as well, would have to marvel at that too!). I traveled across the mighty Congo River to see the hospital in the early years, as a guest of Dikembe, when I was serving as United States Ambassador to Republic of Congo. (It was actually crossing this difficult River, between the Kinshasa-Brazzaville capitals, where we first met). From that point forward, I always helped whenever I could and advocated for his humanitarian work, as well as his goal to have a state-of-the art hospital in Kinshasa, in honor of the special place both his Mum and Dad held in his heart. Actually, it was his Mum's and Dad's health challenges that inspired Dikembe's commitment to not only building a hospital, but his Foundation. We remained good friends all these years -- from attending dinners at his home and on several occasions as his guest at his Foundation's annual awards dinner in Atlanta. My Mom, too, was an avid basketball fan (my love of the game came from her), so he invited me to bring her to one of his Nets games (when the Nets were still in New Jersey). When he called on the late Secretary Colin Powell at the State Department, he had me come with him, and I continue to thank him to this day for recommending me to the advisory board of the UN-week global issues summit called Concordia, on which I continue to serve.
I have not been able to write anything until today as I was hit so hard by the loss of this larger-than-life personality, who was a wonderful gem for the world, one of the best of Africa and America, a wonderful husband, son, and father, and a wonderful friend to me for so many years. My heart goes out to Rose and the family as well as his longtime wonderful assistant Sharon.
Dikembe may you rest in eternal peace... your laugh and your big smile I will always remember, along with you always, always calling me "my ambassador," I will always be just that! It is an endearment I will always treasure as I will our friendship. Rest well my friend.
#DikemeMutombo, #Dikembe, #DRC, #FEEEDS, #CEO-FEEEDS, #AmbSanders
