Enyi Okereke was supremely comfortable within himself; he radiated serenity. He was confident but not boastful; he was resolute without being rigid. Enyi gave no hint of anxiety or even impatience. He was quick to smile, his eyes glimmering, suggesting that he not only saw life's ironies but accepted them with grace. More than anything, Enyi was generous. His idea of "doing something for himself" was taking a year out of the prime of his career, to work on a medical mission. I hope that the Okereke family can take some small solace from the knowledge that Enyi was able to teach so many residents, more than 100 of us, valuable life lessons.

Enyi was a great friend indeed.

One of the most enjoyable presences to have experienced. Enyi Okereke was not only a great friend but an amazing teacher--of orthopaedic surgery and of life.

He knew so well how to engage all aspects of his life with poise and grace. This exuded forth in his daily life and is best exemplified by his astute ability to inject humor and overall enjoyability into all he did. His tastes in music and conversation style were a reflection of his laid back nature. However, at the same time, he was able to practice orthopaedic surgery with such fervor and undying devotion that one might be easily confused into thinking him as a workaholic. Such was not the case. His well-balanced lifestyle became more and more evident as interactions increased.

 As a resident under his tutelage, I thank him. He will be remembered for all of my lifetime. We have lost a uniquely astounding man whose teachings/techniques/pearls of surgery and of life will live on in our own hands as we perform surgery and as we go about our daily lives.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200812050319.html

Enyi was an eminently accomplished and successful individual, yet he remained humble and totally unselfish.  He devoted tremendous time and energy to improving the lieves of those less fortunate than himself.  He was loved and respected by his family, friends, patients and colleagues.  He will be sorely missed.

Enyi was in Enugu to pass on his tremendous skills and knowledge to fellow Nigerians. He was passionate and all who know him say he was a gentleman. I knew him for a very short time but will continually regret that he did not live long enough to help improve the standard of care in Nigerian orthiopaedics. His memory  and efforts lives on as those he left behind continue to pursue his healthcare agenda for Nigerians.

He will be sorely missed.

Ike

Enyi Okereke was a dear friend of my family and a dear compatriot.  A well-traveled cosmopolitan, he was also an ever smiling, genial, self-assured, soft-spoken and articulate man of enviable and affable grace, who despite his professional accomplishments, maintained a healthy sense of humility. He was passionate and optimistic about Nigeria as only a true patriot could; and like a true patriot, he died in the service of Nigeria and for Nigeria. Always reform minded, Enyi was reputed for high standard of transparency, integrity, and a keen appreciation of the essence of collegiality.  For these values and much more, he will be sorely missed. 
- Oseloka Obaze See full tributehttp://www.kwenu.com/publications/obaze/2008/enyi_okereke_real_gem.htm

I had the pleasure of working with Enyi for almost 7 years.  He was one in a billion.   I have never admired another person more in my lifetime.  His integrity, kindness, sense of humor and great laugh are among the many things I will miss.  He inspired always. I will never stop missing him.  I will surely never forget him.

" A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam.  And for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our   world.  But when it flies again -- and though we wish it could have stayed....we feel lucky to have seen it."  Author unknown

Carol Johnson

I was so saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Dr. Okereke.  I had the opportunity to work with him and found him to be a consistently thoughtful and considerate individua.  I referred friends and family members to him not because he was a Penn physician, but because I knew they would receive the best care from this highly skilled and consistently compassionate physician. 

I suffered from bunions, hammertoes, dislocated toes, etc - my feet were a mess, and I had always been told to hold off on surgery until I could no longer walk.  Finally, in my late 40's, I had reached that point.  I searched long and hard for a foot surgeon who could help me walk without pain and perhaps reshape my feet into some kind of normalcy. Dr. Okereke was recommended to me by son's orthopedic surgeon -- a recommendation coming from another physician carried a lot of weight with me.  I went to the internet and looked up Dr. Okereke.  I found his e-mail address and sent him a laundry list of problems, asking him if he could help.  I was shocked to open my e-mail the next day to find that Dr. Okereke had replied at 3 AM!  He assured me he could handle my case.  Long story short, he operated on one foot in December and 6 months later, the other.  One of the things I liked about Dr. Okereke's treatment is that he didn't cast me - rather he put me in a "big shoe".  When I recovered, I was pain free.  Dr.Okereke told me that bunions had an 80% chance of recurring in adults.  About a year ago, I returned to Dr. Okereke with new bunions, but no pain.  He said as long as I could walk and get shoes, I should avoid surgery.  Now, I am once again having pain in one foot, and I had plans to see Dr. Okereke again.  I loved his bedside manner and the fact that he wheeled me into the OR. How often does one not even see the surgeon right before surgery?  It is inconceivable to me that Dr. Okereke is not here - I still feel it's surreal.  I remember his friendly smile and his style of speaking - his words always sounded like poetry.  He was so gentile and kind.  I am looking for another doctor, but there is no replacing Enyi Okereke.  May he rest in peace.

As an employee of Penn, I had heard wonderful stories of the compassion and sought after skills of Dr Enyi Okereke the great surgeon. After I had a debilitating accident at work, everyone made way for me to see Dr. Okereke, I thank GOD for Dr Okereke and the ability to walk. I would have been wheelchair bound or an invalid if it had not been for him.

To his wife and family, thank you for sharing such a wonderful man. His work is still appreciated by people such as myself. He taaught me that yes, it will hurt, but no pain, no gain, and perseverence is the key.

My prayers are that in your sorrow GOD will give you peace and embrace you in your time of need.

Enyi Okereke is a man who lived up to the expectations of a Christian person in every way possible. As a Christian he knew he had free will. He used his free will to live up to his potential and help everyone he encountered to live up to there potential. Where potential was hidden by health and personal limitations he would uncover it. His loyalty was boundless. The daily paradox of watching strength and gentleness never ceased to amaze. To see him set a standard of excellence in all he participated in while keeping priorities in check was poetic balancing act. I first met Dr. Okereke when he was an orthopaedic resident. He was as I described above! When to opportunity arose to work for Enyi directly I was honored that he would hire me. He took the time to teach me and supported my transition into the new position. He was always respectful of me and my family. I am grateful to know Enyi. He has added to the person that I am in countless ways. Because he shared his gifts with countless people, he will live on. Carol Devlin

Eyin Okereke was many things to many people. He was a husband, a father, a brother, a cousin, an uncle, a teacher, a mentor and a friend. In all of these relationships he demonstrated how in all things one can touch others positively. In Dr. Enyi we all in our different ways had a true resource always willing to be tapped in order to help others. Dr. Enyi gave of himself to help others and was still serving others till the last day.

He will forever be missed. A large void has being created with his sudden untimely passing. We must all trust in God and console ourselves by the simple phrase, "God's time is the Best".

May God bless the man who was a blessing to many.

Dr Fred Igbinedion

I was privileged to meet Dr. Okereke in November 2001, when I went to him for a severed tendon in my foot.  He performed surgery and I was back to work in several weeks.  Later, I had my husband see him about achilies tendon pain and again his treatment was superb.  We both felt he was kind, patient, and ,above all, an excellent surgeon and wonderful man. This morning I told a friend who is experiencing pain in her ankle that I would look up Dr. Okereke's Cherry Hill office number.  I still have his HUP number in my address book, but wanted to check on-line.  It was during this search that I came across the sad news of his death in Nigeria.  I found myself reading all the tributes, looking at his kind face, and thinking of his family.  I offer my heartfelt sympathy and pray they can find some solace in the scores of people who will always remember this fine man.

Happy Birthday Dr. Okereke. Your memories will always be remembered.