Two messages from Sam Slagle Bruce's daughter Afua Ankomah dated

July 21, 2014

My name is Afua Ankomah. I saw your notice on Ghanaweb. Joe Slagle (Kofi Ankomah to us) was my father. He died in October 2005. He was a wonderful person, as I am sure you know, and is sorely missed. These are some of his articles.Though the work isn't representative of his personality as a whole, I hope you still manage to find his voice in the words he left behind. https://www.google.com.gh/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Kofi%20Ankomah%20freetown%20avenue

I would like to know what you remember of my father - if you wouldn't mind sharing. I didn't know many of his friends from the period before he returned to Ghana. He shared some stories about his life in Connecticut, but not many about High School. 

His brother, Samuel L. Bruce, is (was?) a doctor in California. I am not sure whether he is still alive - we have been out of touch for decades. I hope knowing about the change of name helps if you continue to try to find him. 

Best, 

Afua. 

afuaankomah@gmail.com

July 25, 2014

Dear George, 

Thanks for getting in touch as promised. Robert Forrester did get in touch. I am glad he was able to reach out to Dr. Bruce. I just sent an e-mail to Robert with the following information, which I think is exactly what you wanted to know:  

It is heartwarming to know that there are still people who remember my father after so long. He did mention being on the soccer team, and running a bit as well. He went to Parsons College after high school. He ultimately got a PhD in Public Administration from New York University, and worked to build Ghana's management capacity as a lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, sometimes consulting for the Ghanaian government before working with the UN and the Commonwealth. 

Growing up, I was very proud of what he did. He was a very kind person (you don't realise that till you go out into the real world and realise that not everyone is nice and/or polite), and had an active social life, which always included family, and friends in the various countries in which he lived (Swaziland, Sri Lanka, the Maldives). As a human being, he was very nurturing, and I think that's something that people still remember about him and miss dearly. 

Later on in life, he tried to give back, using empowerment rather than charity - trying to convince farmers to grow high value crops for processing into essential oils, and doing feasibility studies for green manufacturing and waste processing plants to put the end products of sawmills to good use. Unfortunately, he died while still trying to accomplish something socioeconomically meaningful. You could say that's ultimately why people have children. 

We recently moved, so most of the pictures are in storage, but I will try to find some I can share. 

I would love to see pictures from the school yearbook! And it would be very kind of you to collate memories from his classmates.

I am very happy that you have been able to find 2 more classmates. Thank you for caring enough. 

Best, 

Afua.