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This page has been created to remember and recognise those members of the City, University of London community who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are sorely missed and our thoughts and condolences are with their families at this difficult time.
If you would like to share any further names and stories with us or feel that there are people we have missed, please contact us on alumni@city.ac.uk.
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Dr Stan Mutsatsa (Senior Lecturer at City, University of London)
Passed away on 20th January 2021
Dr Stan Mutsatsa passed away in Harare, Zimbabwe, where he was visiting family. Dr Mutsatsa joined the Mental Health Nursing team at City, University of London in 2015, and was a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences when he fell ill with COVID-19. Professor Debra Salmon, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, describes Dr Mutsatsa as “… a much-valued colleague, supporting, caring and advocating for students and staff as both a nurse educator and Trade Union representative. Stan had a real ability to encourage students to think critically about their studies.”
Dr Stan Mutsatsa leaves behind his wife and three children, and our thoughts are with the family. Anyone who would like to pay tribute to Dr Mutsatsa is welcome to visit his memorial page.
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Onyenachi Obasi (Public Health, 2014)
Passed away on 6th May 2020
Onyenachi Obasi worked as a Health Visitor and Nurse in Newham, East London. She died on 6 May 2020 at Queen’s Hospital, Romford. Her family shared that Onyenachi “felt she had a duty to work and help during the pandemic” and that “she gave her life doing a job she loved.” In her tribute to Onyenachi, Professor Debra Salmon, Dean of the School of Health Sciences said, “Onyenachi used her expertise, knowledge and skill as a Health Visitor to provide professional public health services to individuals, families and communities to enhance health and reduce health inequalities. She is remembered as a wonderful and reliable member of the team, with a friendly and welcoming personality. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with her family, friends and colleagues.”
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Michael Allieu (Nursing, 2012)
Passed away on 18th April 2020
Michael Allieu died at Homerton University Hospital in Hackney, London, where he had worked as a staff nurse since 2007. Professor Debra Salmon, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, said: “As a former City nursing student, and in more recent years clinical colleague, we remember Michael as an incredibly kind, compassionate and dedicated individual with a passion for patient care. Michael was always extremely welcoming and supportive of our students on placement at Homerton Hospital, and of our nursing lecturers during their visits. He leaves an impression on many School of Health Sciences staff and students and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and condolences are with Michael’s family and friends at this sad and difficult time.”
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Mary Oniah (Nursing Studies (Palliative & End-of-Life Care, 2011)
Passed away on 4th May 2020
Mary Oniah passed away on 4 May 2020 at King George Hospital in Ilford, East London. She was a Regional Director for a care home provider. Mary Oniah was a trained nurse as well as a midwife at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka in Zambia. Professor Debra Salmon, Dean of the School of Health Sciences said: “Mary was a passionate, hardworking and caring student. Mary’s skills, deep empathy and dedication enabled her to support and improve the quality of life for those she cared for and their families, at the time they needed it most. It is a privilege to have been part of Mary’s professional journey and our heartfelt sympathies go out to her family, friends and colleagues at this sad and difficult time.” Sadly, Mary Oniah’s husband has also passed after contracting Covid-19. The couple leaves behind three children.
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Jennie Sablayan (Nursing and Midwifery, 2007)
Passed away on 5th May 2020
Jennie Sablayan died at West Middlesex Hospital on 5 May 2020. Jennie had been a haematology nurse at University College Hospital (UCLH) for nearly 20 years. UCLH Chief Executive Marcel Levi said: “Jennie was a much-loved specialist haematology nurse. An expert in her field, Jennie looked after patients with leukaemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers with much kindness and great dedication. UCLH staff and patients will remember Jennie for her hard-working and unassuming approach during her 18 years of invaluable service. We will miss her terribly, her humour, her compassion, her friendship and her humbleness in supporting her team and her patients.” She leaves behind her husband and two daughters, aged 10 and 14. Our thoughts are with Jennie’s family and friends at this difficult time.
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Margaret Njenga (Nursing, 2006 and Midwifery CPD, 2017/18)
Passed away in May 2020
Margaret was a well-respected, admired and cherished midwife. Heartfelt tributes from Margaret’s friends and colleagues honoured her as a hardworking, motivated and cheerful person. Professor Debra Salmon, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, remembers Margaret as an “excellent and dedicated Midwifery Manager at The Royal London Hospital. She successfully completed Newborn Infant Physical Examination Modules with us at City, University of London in 2017/18 and is remembered as a motivated, dynamic, forward-thinking, and hardworking student. Margaret was valued and much loved by all those who had the privilege of knowing her, and her kindness and positivity will be remembered by colleagues in the School of Health Sciences.” Our condolences and thoughts are with Margaret’s family, friends and clinical colleagues at this incredibly difficult time.
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Adekunle Enitan (Health Informatics, 2006)
Passed away on 24th April 2020
Adekunle Enitan was an intensive care nurse who was highly regarded by his colleagues and peers. Aged 55, a husband and a father of two, he passed away after contracting Covid-19 whilst helping and caring for others at the frontline of the fight against this pandemic. Dr Peter Weller, former Head of Centre for Health Informatics at City, University of London remembers Ade as a “hard-working and attentive student with a dry sense of humour. He achieved his MSc the hard way – studying while still working shifts at a hospital. It’s with great sadness that I learned of Ade’s passing and his wife and children are in my thoughts at this difficult time.” On behalf of the University, we extend our deepest condolences to Adekunle’s family, his friends and colleagues.
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Dr Mamoona Rana (Health Informatics, 2002)
Passed away on 16th April 2020
Dr Mamoona Rana passed away aged 48. Dr Rana worked in the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) and had dedicated her life to caring for her patients. Prof Oliver Shanley OBE, Chief Executive at NELFT remembers her as “a very highly regarded, enormously-valued, professional and committed doctor who will be hugely missed by her colleagues.” Mamoona’s husband, Dr Azeem Qureshi, shared that “She always used to tell me about City University. Many times, she told me that she wanted to go to City University to visit her faculty in Health Informatics but her dream can no longer be materialised.” Dr Peter Weller, former Head of Centre for Health Informatics at City and Dr Rana’s former teacher said, “I recall Mamoona’s big smile as she sat at the front of the classroom during lectures. She was a hard-working, popular student and dedicated to being a doctor in order to care for people. She was taken from us far too soon. Our thoughts are with Mamoona’s family at this tragic time.”
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Fuad Nahdi (International Journalism, 1984)
Passed away on 21st March 2020
Fuad Nahdi was a prominent British Muslim journalist and a key voice in Britain’s Muslim community. In its tribute to Fuad Nahdi, The Guardian shared, “His rare cultural, religious and political agility, combined with an irreverent sense of humour, meant his voice was heard from Downing Street to Dakar, from Manchester to Mecca.” The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan named Fuad Nahdi “one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims” and The Muslim Council of Britain remembers him as “one of the early pioneers of the British Muslim media, having founded first Muslimwise magazine and then Q-News. Fuad Nahdi inspired young British Muslims to reclaim their narrative and what it means to be both British and Muslim.” Our thoughts and sympathies are with his wife, Humera, and his two children.
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Robert Wykes (Civil Engineering, 1952)
Passed away on 16th April 2020
Robert Wykes passed away in hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. He was 87 years of age. Robert was an accomplished Civil Engineer. In 1995 New Civil Engineer wrote an article about him, describing him as the “Red Adair of Civil Engineering”. Robert married in 1968 and is survived by his wife Christina, five children and eleven grandchildren. Remembering his Dad, Robert’s son Joe Wykes said, “He was a keen rugby fan and after he finished his career as a Civil Engineer he worked with a number of charities focusing on providing shelter and food to the homeless.” Our thoughts and condolences are with Robert’s family and friends.
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Professor Peter Sinclair (Donor)
Passed away on 31st March 2020
Peter Sinclair was Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham and previously taught Economics at Oxford for 24 years. He was married to the late economist Shelagh Heffernan, a former Professor of Banking and Finance at Cass Business School. He helped set up and support the Shelagh Heffernan Scholarship Programme launched in her memory. A student of Professor Sinclair at Oxford, Graham Dransfield, City’s Business Development Manager said, “Professor Sinclair was renowned for his amazing memory. He was a kind, gentle and brilliant man and will be greatly missed.” Interim Dean of Cass, Professor Paolo Volpin remarked: “Peter was an inspirational educator and, as a thinker, his intelligence burned brightly. His support for the Business School was invaluable. On behalf of all at Cass and the wider University, I would like to offer my condolences to his wife Jayne and his family.
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