Kweku Arku Garbrah, Emeritus Professor of Classical Studies, died Oct. 2.
He was born Dec. 22, 1937, in Cape Coast, Ghana. He was the son of Charles Brookman Garbrah and Efuwa Gyimah Garbrah. He had five siblings who have all died before him: Charles Brookman Garbrah Jr., Margert Garbrah, Anna Garbrah, Kofi Ayensu Garbrah (died at age 1) and Victoria Garbrah.
He attended Mfantsipim school and then won a scholarship to read classics at the University of Ghana, Legon, earning an external Bachelor of Arts at the University of London. He went on to earn his B. Litt. at Oxford and the D. Phil at the University of Cologne. His mentors in all three institutions were luminaries in their fields: in Legon he studied Latin with the writer, Ama Ata Aidoo, in Oxford he studied Homeric Greek with M.L. West, and in Cologne he studied Greek inscriptions with R. Merkelbach.
While completing his doctoral work, Garbrah taught at several American universities, including UT Austin and UCLA. He taught at the University of Alberta, Edmonton from 1972, rising through the ranks and leaving in 1990 as professor to take a visiting professorship and then a professorship at the University of Michigan, where he taught for 25 years.
Ever the consummate philologist, Garbrah’s research focused on defining grammatical, syntactical and dialectal variants within a wide array of archaic and classical epigraphical and literary Ancient Greek texts. He also developed the study of the grammar of Greek dialects. Garbrah authored “A Grammar of Ionic Inscriptions from Erythrae” (Anton Hain Verlag, 1978) as well as numerous articles ranging in scope.
In the Department of Classical Studies at U-M, Garbrah was an exacting teacher, noted for his insistence that his students undertake demanding philological training. His prolific learning served as a model of accuracy and fluency for ancient Greek and Latin. He guided virtually all of the graduate students in the department to the highest standards of linguistic proficiency. He also inspired the undergraduate students to a love of philology.
Outside the department, Garbrah was a treasured friend to the African diaspora community at U-M.
A respected colleague, devoted friend and beloved father and grandfather Garbrah is survived by his two daughters, Aba and Efuwa , his son, Kofi, his son’s wife and two grandchildren.
— Submitted by Anna Moyer, Department of Classical Studies
Jerry Brabenec
I frequently drove Mr. Garbrah in my cab and he was a caring and open person. It was an honor to meet and talk with him. My sympathies and thoughts are with all who held him dear.
Emeraldia McEwan
in the midst of life, we are in death. from your nieces and nephews, cousins and the entire family back home in Africa, we say fare thee well.
John Hershey
Very sad news. I much enjoyed following Caesar through Gaul with him in 2001. I think we had more impedimenta than Gaius JC himself: Professor Garbrah liked us to have multiple reference volumes ready at hand–dictionaries, grammars, etc.–and I liked it too, especially after I bought a rolling suitcase to carry it all. I really got indirect quotation after that course. I enjoyed running into him on the 2nd floor of Angell and at several APA annual meetings: he always took time
My best to his friends and family..
Kwadwo Mensah
I knew Kweku for 24 years when we met at Oxford in 1987. Interestingly were went to the same high school, Mfantsipim and we grew up in the same town, Cape Coast. During those 24 years, we became very close friends. Although I am a lawyer, Kweku and I did a lot of discussions on Plato, Aristotle, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Kweku insisted that I read the correct translations and for the Iliad his preference was the Lattimore translation. I will miss Kweku very much.
Henry Mensah
I never met Prof. Kweku Garbrah. My knowledge of him is from my brother Kwadwo (Atta) who held him in high esteem. The story of such great scholars inspires us. One day when we are called to the great beyond, may those who script our story, say such kind words about us. Kweku, may your gentle soul rest peacefully in the soft bosom of THE ALMIGHTY.
Husni Bouhairie
I knew uncle as we called him way back since eight years ago through my sister Anita.l wrote this for him ..uncle we are never ready to say goodbye to someone we hold dear if it were up to as.uncle ,we would always keep you here .but god has reasons for his own and plan we do not know ,and these are always for our good , though it seem not so.our arms are empty, and our heart are filled with tears and grief, we love each day with u, now find these days to brief.yet if only we could see heaven, we could know u are happy there.And we never call you back; with such great joy you share.And so we will trust you to God great care and we know someday , oncemore; we will hold you to our heart again , when we reach heaven’s shore.. Prof (uncle) rest in pace ….DA Yie! Da Yie FROM PAPA cape coast Ghana.
Andrei Nemoianu
Professor Garbrah was and always shall remain the most inspirational instructor I was ever blessed to work with. His erudition and uncompromising rigor combined with his genuine kindness and interest in learners are a model that I treasure and can only strive towards. May his memory be eternal.
Adina Korsah
Prof. We love you but Jesus loves you most. May your soul rest in perfect peace.
Marc Bittner
Dr Garbrah, I would hardly have known Latin without you. Although my understanding will never rival yours, I have you to thank for having read Catullus and Petronius. Pax vobis.
David Dean
I hung with Kweku ’66-’67 at Scholtz Garten in Austin where we spent hours drinking cold beer and philosophying. I grew up in apartheid Texas in the 1940’s. He was sensitive and kind and incredibly intelligent and life changing, I could no longer view blacks as inferior after exposure to him as he was such a superior man. I feel deep love and affection for him in my memory.