Rest In Peace: Malcom Mathis (BDPA St. Louis Chapter President)

We are deeply saddened to inform our BDPA membership that BDPA St Louis Chapter President, Malcom Mathis II, and his 22 month old son, Malcom Mathis III, passed away in a tragic incident. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Susan and a devoted father to his children. Malcolm was a generous and caring friend and colleague and the personification of Servant Leadership. His absence will be felt greatly.

Malcom served as BDPA St Louis Chapter President from 2016 - 2018, where he embodied BDPA beliefs and purpose, “to serve and elevate others and prepare students and young professionals today for leadership tomorrow”. Malcom also served as a member of the BDPA St. Louis Corporate Advisory Council. He generously gave his time and talents in many capacities in his community, including on the School Board for the Jennings School District.

For those who were fortunate to know Malcom well, you couldn’t help but admire how deeply he cared for his community and the people he worked with. He spent more than 6 years at the Monsanto Corporation most recently as a business architect and an active leader in the African Americans in Monsanto Network (AAIM). He was always a strong advocate for diversity in Monsanto.

A benefit account has been established at Commercial Bank for The Mathis Family. Make checks payable to The Mathis Family Benefit. This account has been verified by the Maryland Heights Police Department. This account was established to help raise funds for funeral expenses.


Contributions can be mailed to:
      Commercial Bank
      Attn: The Mathis Family Benefit
      2330 West Port Plaza Drive
      Maryland Heights, MO 63146

Rest In Peace: Jim Cunningham (1946-2011)

BDPA Cincinnati chapter member James M. ("Jim") Cunningham lost his two-year battle with cancer on February 11, 2011. Jim represented BDPA on Ohio's Third Frontier Initiative when it was being crafted by the governor. Jim also served as a director of the BDPA Cincinnati Entrepreneur Special Interest Group and was moderator of the BDPA-Telecommunications YahooGroup.

Jim had a long career with Cincinnati Bell and served as the Information Technology department director at National College in Cincinnati. Jim's skills, knowledge and talents will be missed by BDPA and the IT industry in southwest Ohio.

Rest in peace Jim.

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• Rest In Peace: Brandon Berry (1984-2008)

Rest In Peace: Brandon Berry (1984-2008)

BDPA lost a young legend on February 3, 2008 when Brandon T. Berry died much too soon. Brandon was born March 20, 1984 in Viscenza, Italy. He traveled all around the world. He recently graduated from Ohio State University with a Computer Science degree. He was working on a Master Degree at the time of his death.

Brandon's dream was to become an entrepreneur with computer sales and internet services business. In fact, he demonstrated his entrepreneurial skills with a business that he started in high school and continued while in college.

I served as BDPA Cincinnati chapter president in 1999-2001. I knew young Brandon throughout my 3-year team as chapter president. I first met him in 1999 while he was attending Cincinnati's Hughes High School. He served as president of the 'Future Educators of America' in high school. However, his love of information technology led him to the BDPA Cincinnati chapter computer camp that we created in 1999. His talents were self-evident during the computer camp. In fact, Brandon ended up being a member of the national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team from Cincinnati in both 1999 and 2000.


His teammates in 1999 were Tiara Bonner, Jarelle Marshall, Kelly Robinson and Calvin Shaw, III.

His teammates chose Brandon to be their captain at the 2000 national competition held in Washington DC. The team confidently called themselves 'Team CHAOS (Cincinnati Holds All Opposition Speechless)'. Brandon and his teammates (Raven Chambers, Jarelle Marshall, Terris Poole and Stephanie Ross) in 2000 brought home the silver medal in the national competition. It remains the highest level of success for BDPA Cincinnati in over 20 years. Brandon used the Bemley Scholarship that he won in 2000 towards his educational expenses at Ohio State University.

Brandon loved C/C++ Programming and he came back in 2001 as a HSCC alumni to help coach the team that year. He served as a 'technical representative' for the Cincinnati HSCC team that traveled to the 2001 national competition held in Chicago.

Brandon Berry had an immeasurable impact on the members, supporters and sponsors of BDPA Cincinnati chapter.  He is part of our history and his impact as a role model can never be underestimated.

You can help us celebrate his life by making a donation to the Brandon Berry Memorial Scholarship Fund!

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• Cincinnati.com, 1/6/2014 (Hadiya Harrigan)

Rest In Peace: Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)

On this day in 2013 we lost international hero Nelson Mandela. His life personifies 'the heart of a lion'. He led the fight against apartheid with extraordinary vigor and resilience after spending nearly three decades of his life behind bars. He sacrificed his private life and his youth for his people, and remains South Africa's best known and loved hero.


Mandela was born July 18, 1918. He was jailed in November 1962 for leaving the country illegally and for incitement to strike. While serving the sentence he was charged with sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In prison Mandela demonstrated his heart by never compromising his political principles. He was always a source of strength for the other prisoners. Nelson Mandela's reputation grew steadily. He was widely accepted as the most significant Black leader in South Africa and became a potent symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement gathered strength. He consistently refused to compromise his political position to obtain his freedom.


More people watched his release from prison on February 11, 1990 than any other prisoner in the history of the world. Some even analyzed the details of his speech he gave on his release! He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He served as president of South Africa from 1994-1999.

Mandela has honorary degrees from more than 50 international universities. Nelson Mandela retired from public life in June 1999 and he currently resides in his birth place - Qunu, Transkei.

Here is my Pinterest board dedicated to Nelson Mandela

BDPAers, do you remember your participating in protests against apartheid? Do you remember how you felt when Mandela was finally released from prison? Can you deny that this quite man of peace found a way into your heart?

Rest in peace, Madiba!

Rest in Peace: Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) joins with the rest of the technology world in mourning the death of 56-year old Steve Jobs. Jobs, who passed away on this date in 2011, was the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," read a statement by Apple’s board of directors. "Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts."

In 2004, he beat back an unusual form of pancreatic cancer, and in 2009 he was forced to get a liver transplant. After several years of failing health, Jobs announced on Aug. 24, 2011 that he was stepping down as Apple’s chief executive.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know," Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation. "Unfortunately, that day has come."

One of the great minds of this time. Jobs truly revolutionized consumer technology as we know it. He will be missed.

Rest in Peace: Tim Benson (1960-2009)

Tim Benson was a founding member of our BDPA chapter in Lansing, MI. He passed away on September 12, 2009 at the age of 48.

Rest in Peace: Brandon Robert Gardner (1984-2009)

All members of the BDPA Education & Technology Foundation (BETF) family were saddened to learn of the death of Brandon Robert Gardner (1984-2009).

Brandon attended at least five national BDPA technology conferences ... including the 1999 conference in which he participated as a member of the Los Angeles chapter high school computer competition (HSCC) team.

Brandon helped to coach and chaperone the LA chapter HSCC team the next year when the national championship took place in Chicago. He is also remembered for making outstanding program meeting presentations on the Internet for his west coast chapter.

Brandon's dad, Robert, served as BDPA Los Angeles chapter president in 1999-2000. The entire Gardner family dealt with the rare disease, San Joacquin Valley Fever, for many years. Brandon lost his battle with the disease on August 22, 2009.

To the Gardner family, we say, "Hold tight to memories for comfort, lean on your friends for strength and always remember how much you are cared about."
To our young prince, Brandon Robert Gardner, we say, "Rest in peace."

BDPA Los Angeles chapter created the Brandon Gardner Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor the memory of this young man.   Contact BETF by phone (513.284-4968) or email if you would like to make a tax-deductible pledge to the BDPA Los Angeles Chapter Fund in Brandon's memory.

Rest In Peace: Mark Grady (BDPA St. Louis)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation received the following message from the BDPA St. Louis chapter board of directors:

Mark Grady

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of BDPA St. Louis chapter president Mark Grady. Mark passed away at his home over the weekend. If you have had the pleasure of knowing Mark, you know that he was passionate about BDPA and the opportunity to enhance careers and create relationships and networks for minority professionals. Mark will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all that knew him.

The service/gathering for Mark Grady will be at the following address this Saturday, May 11 at 2:00pm. It is my understanding that there will be no viewing ... only a video montage and condolences to the family ... at this St. Louis event.


Kappa Community Center
500 North Vandeventer Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314)652-0677
For those interested, there will be an additional service in Detroit will be held on Saturday May 18. More information to come regarding gifts or donations for those that are interested. The local Kappa Chapter is working to create an education fund for Mark’s two daughters.

Rest In Peace: Erni Moore (1958-2011)

We, the entire BDPA community, were saddened to learn of the recent passing of Erni Moore ... founder and long-time president of BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter ... on this date in 2011. Erni enabled many students and IT professionals in central Florida to experience the hands-on benefits of BDPA membership as evidenced by this June 2002 chapter newsletter.

In fact, Erni may be the only chapter president to ever host a national BDPA conference that was not held in his or her chapter city. BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter, under Erni's leadership, successfully hosted the 2002 National BDPA Technology Conference held in Orlando, Florida.

God has blessed our BDPA family with Erni for several seasons. His life and spirit has truly been a blessing. His legacy lives through his wife, Tracy, and their three daughters. Erni's legacy will continue to provide hope and inspiration to all who knew him.


Rest In Peace Erni

BDPA Leader Marcus Mack Dies In Costa Rica After Saving Boy

Friends, family and BDPA associates are mourning the loss of a past BDPA Southern Minnesota leader who saved the life of a 10-year-old boy off the coast of Costa Rica, but couldn't make it to shore himself. Thirty-five-year-old Marcus Mack was vacationing in Costa Rica on Feb. 7. He was playing in the water with his friend David Tines (BDPA So Minnesota past president), Tines' 10-year-old son, and the girl of another friend when a wave sucked the group under water.

Tines says Marcus went to the aid of Tines' son D'Angelo. He grabbed the boy by the waist and threw him toward the shore. The boy, his father and the girl all made it to the beach.

But Marcus never made it to shore.

David Tines says Marcus is a hero who saved a boy's life instead of worrying about his own.

Marcus attended several conferences so many BDPA members may remember him. He is the father of three young children so a fund has been set up to help support his family. Donations can be sent to:


'The Mack Fund'
Edward Jones
4057 28th St. N.W., Suite 400
Rochester, MN 55901

The story of his heroism is told in more detail here and here. Please keep his family, David's family and the entire Southern MN Chapter in your prayers.

'Father of African telecoms' dies

Perhaps it is time for BDPA to learn more about our counterparts in other parts of the world ... especially Africa. For example, how many of you realized that Miko Alexis Rwayitare is known as the father of African telecommunications and credited with making the first mobile call on the continent 20 years ago? Having made the first mobile call in Africa, back in 1987, Rwayitare went on to build a number of successful mobile networks on the continent.

Unfortunately, I didn't know of the 65-year-old Rwayitare until he succumbed to complications following routine surgery on September 25 in a Brussels hospital. He died on that day. He is survived by his wife Consolatta and seven children.