Deaths
January 13, 2009, Volume 55, No. 17	Print Issue

Ms. Bryan, Library

Jane G. Bryan, former administrator at the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, passed away December 15 from amyloidosis, a rare disease characterized by a buildup of proteins in one’s organs; she was 65.

Ms. Bryan’s career at Penn spanned nearly 30 years. Initially, she worked as a librarian specializing in social work titles and then became head of reference services at the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. Before leaving in 2001 for Princeton University, she served as acting director of public services. Ms. Bryan had been a member of the Almanac Advisory Board.

Since 2005, Ms. Bryan served as director of libraries at Drexel University.

Ms. Bryan earned her bachelor’s degree in Italian from Wellesley College. She earned her master’s degree in library science from Drexel University.

Ms. Bryan is survived by her husband, James; son, Thomas; daughter, Sophie; and a sister.

A memorial service will be held on January 31 at 3 p.m. at Drexel’s Anthony J. Drexel Picture Gallery, 3142 Market Street. Memorial donations may be made to the Amyloid Research Fund, 715 Albany St., K503, Boston, MA 02118.

Ms. Conroy, Penn Museum

Charlotte J. Conroy, retired coordinator of the International Classroom program at the Penn Museum, passed away December 9 at age 88.

Ms. Conroy began working at the Penn Museum as a temporary secretary in 1975 but became permanent in 1982. The International Classroom program that Ms. Conroy coordinated is a creative program of the Museum’s education department whose mission is to promote intercultural understanding between residents of the Delaware Valley area and people around the world. She continued to volunteer after retiring in 1990.

In addition to her duties at Penn, Ms. Conroy had served as a board member of International House of Philadelphia since the 1960s, often offering her home as an international gathering place for students. She helped coordinate its move to its current location at 37th and Chestnut Streets, which was dedicated in 1970.

Ms. Conroy majored in international relations at the University of California, Berkeley.

Ms. Conroy is survived by her husband, F. Hilary Conroy, professor emeritus of history; son, F.H. Conroy, III; daughter, Sharlie Conroy Ushioda; and four grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.

Mr. Moukwa, Penn Senior

Kambili (Kam) Andre Joseph Moukwa, a 22-year-old senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, was found dead January 1 in a vacant parking lot near Delaware Avenue by friends who had reported him missing after he hadn’t returned home after attending a club for a New Year’s Eve celebration. The exact cause of death was not available, but investigators believe that hypothermia could have been the cause.

Born in Quebec, Canada, Mr. Moukwa grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio and moved to Raleigh, NC when he was in  high school. At Penn, he was majoring in philosophy, politics and economics (PPE). He had been a member of the United Minorities Council and served as a communications intern in Mayor Michael Nutter’s Press Office since last year.

Mr. Moukwa is survived by his parents, Mosongo and Barbara; sisters, Camille and Elali.

Dr. Okereke, Orthopaedic Surgery

Dr. Enyi Okereke, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery, died November 25 of a heart attack in Enugu, Nigeria, where he travelled to train physicians. He was 54 years old.

After completing his residency at Penn, Dr. Okereke was appointed to the faculty in 1993 to the department of orthopaedic surgery in the School of Medicine. As an orthopaedic surgeon at HUP, his expertise was in disorders of the foot and ankle with a special interest in diabetes and sports injuries to the foot and ankle.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Okereke was a consultant physician to the Penn Relays, to some of Penn’s athletic teams and to professional teams including the Philadelphia 76ers. He held health fairs in the Philadelphia area and mentored inner city high school students. In addition, he frequently traveled to his native country, Nigeria, to conduct health fairs, donate medical equipment, train physicians and treat patients.

He was a member of several medical organizations and was named a “Top Doctor” in orthopaedic surgery by Philadelphia magazine in 2008.

Dr. Okereke completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Buffalo (SUNY) in 1977. Six years later he earned a doctorate in pharmacy from Mercer University. He earned his medical degree in 1987 from Howard University.

Dr. Okereke is survived by his wife, Moriam; sons, Karim and Kelechi; daughter, Kalaya; grandson, Karim Joseph; three brothers; and two sisters.

For information about an endowment fund in Dr. Okereke’s honor, contributors may send an e-mail to enyitraumafund@gmail.com.

Dr. Pryor, Surgery and Trauma Center

Dr. John P. Pryor, assistant professor of surgery and director of Penn’s Trauma Center, was killed December 25 when a mortar struck near his quarters while he was serving in Iraq as an Army trauma surgeon. He was 42 years old.

Dr. Pryor was appointed to the faculty in the department of surgery in 1999. After serving as an attending surgeon and holding other hospital and administrative appointments, he became the Trauma Program Director in 2006. He was also a clinical associate in the Biobehavioral and Health Science Division in the School of Nursing and an attending surgeon at Reading Hospital.

Dr. Pryor joined the US Army Reserve in 2004. He had been deployed for the second time to Iraq just three weeks before his death. The Army  awarded him a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and a Meritorious Service Medal among a dozen other decorations.

Reflecting on Dr. Pryor, the department of surgery made this statement, “From saving lives in our trauma bays, to fighting violence in West Philadelphia, to garnering the attention of policymakers on important matters, he never waivered in his desire to bring his mighty skills to bear on the most difficult problems of our world.”

As a chief medical adviser to the Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Dr. Pryor held disaster-relief training for volunteers. As a writer, he contributed opinion articles to the Inquirer and the Washington Post, one of which compared the deaths of soldiers on the war battlefield to the loss of everyday citizens in Philadelphia’s battlefield.

Dr. Pryor’s interest in caring for the sick started when he was young. He joined the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Ambulance Corps at age 17 and the next year became a NY State Emergency Medical Technician. On September 11, 2001, Dr. Pryor rushed to Ground Zero to help decipher and fulfill medical requests.

A native of New York, Dr. Pryor received his BS from SUNY at Binghamton in 1988, and his MD from SUNY Buffalo in 1994.

Dr. Pryor is survived by his wife, Dr. Carmela V. Calvo; daughter, Danielle; sons, Francis and John, Jr.; brother, Richard; and his parents, Richard C. and Victoria.

A fund has been established to help his wife and children. Donations may be made to UPHS–Dr. John Pryor Fund, Suite 750, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 30. The service will begin at 3:15 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium and members of the University community are welcome.

To Report A Death Almanac appreciates being informed of the deaths of current and former faculty and staff members, students, and other members of the University community. However, notices of alumni deaths should be directed to the Alumni Records Office at Room 545, Franklin Building, (215) 898-8136 or e-mail record@ben.dev.upenn.edu.