Our deepest sympathy to a great, wise, loving father, grand father, friend and mentor.  We will always miss your smile and talks through your amazing life experience.

May you rest in peace

Gash Assefa, I wish I told you more, how much you meant to me while you were with us. You were always a flawless example of leading a life centered in care and compassion for others as well as a passion for all things. You had true love and respect for all those around you, whether they were children or your peers. I will miss your stories, your lightness, and your humor. This is my favorite photo of you and Babiye, and it warms my soul every time I see it. You made this world a better place. I love you with all my heart, Raeye.

አሰፋ ወዳጄ ፈቅሬ የሂወት ጉዋደኞዬ 

አሰፍዬ ከ60አመት በላይ አብረን ስንኖር አንድም ቀን ከአንደበትህ ክፉ ነገር ወጥቶ አያውቅ ም በጣም በጣም ደግ ሰዉ ጠባቂዬ ነበርክ
 አሁን እንዴት ጨከንክ ሆኖም የእግዚአብሔርን ዉለታ በማሰበ እሰከ ዛሬ አብሮ ስላቆየን እግዚአብሔር ይመስገን እላለሁ
እኔግን እሁን እነዴት ልሁን በጣም ጨንቆኛል 
ከአነተ ተለይቼ መኖር እንዴት እችላለሁ ብለህ ነዉ?
በጣም ግሬ ገባኝ ምን ላርግ ?
ለጀቻችን በጣም አዘኑ 
የልጅ ልጆችሀ  በጣም አዘኑ
ዘመድ ወደጆችህ በጣም አዘኑ
በጣም ደግ ሰዉ ነህ 
ነገር ግን በኛ በክርስቲያኖች እምነት ደግ ሰዉ ወደ ፈጣሪዉ የዘላለም ሒወት ወዳለበት መንግሥተ ሠማያት ይገባል ብለን ስለምናምን በዚህ አጽናናለሁ ፡ ፡ 
የመድሐኒአለም ቤተክርስቲያ ን አባቶችም ፍታትህን በፍቅርና በጸሎት ነበር ያከበሩት 
መድሐኒአለም ቸርነነቱ የማያልቅበት አምላክ ነፍስህን ይቀበላት፡ ፡
አንተ በጣም እድለኛ ነህ 
አብረን ብንሄድ እንዴት ጥሩ ነበር ፡ 
ያምላክ ፈቃድ ይሄ ነበርና  ሆነ ፡ ፡
 የአምላክ ፍቃድ ይህ ነበር ና የሱፈቃድ ይሁን  ፡ ፡

 ዓምላኬ እባክህ ከከእንግዲህ ወዲያ ክፉ አታሰማኘ አታሳየኝ ፡ 
አብ ወልድ መንፈስ ቅዱስ ልመናዬን ስሙኘ ፡ ፡





Blessed to have known you as my father in law. 

The love you have shown to our children, the care you have given to all of us will ever be ingrained in our mind.

Your support, encouragement all are treasures that will make them stronger in life. 

Your stories about the heroic struggle of the Ethiopian contingency in Korea, and in the peace keeping forces in the Congo are a testimony of your contribution to humanity broadly. 

Your vivid story of your journey in life are lifelong lessons. 

You lived a life that is right by all account. 

May you rest in peace!

It is one of the most special blessings of my life to have had Assefa as a grandfather, and even more so to have had him in my life for so long. I will miss absolutely everything about him.

His eyes would light up whenever I walked in the room and he would sit there, patiently listening as I would monologue about my week, always championing me, regardless of if I deserved it. 

I would drop by for a quick visit and end up staying for hours, watching videos and singing songs until he started falling asleep in his chair. When I went to leave, he would be sure to give me a kiss on my forehead and make sure I knew my way home.

His wallet was full of pictures of his children, grandchildren, and Mamaye. He looked at us with pride and he made us feel so unique and capable in whatever we chose to do.  

As heartbroken as I am that he is gone, I know that he loved us immensely and that he knew he was loved in return. I hope to honor him by living a life full of kindness, love, and family.

Assefa, thank you for everything. 
You are the greatest gift.
I love you so so so much.



Assefa was a man who took delight in the smallest of gestures, who always wanted to show he was there for you, and every greeting came with a loving smile.  A bastion of unconditional love for everyone he held dear.

I’ll miss how he’d often walk up and greet me with a smile while giving me a loving tap on the cheek, how we used to catch bugs together, how he’d fight with me to accept money from him, how he’d sing old timey songs and tell me stories of his many travels, and listen to my boring powerlifting stories. And the family get-togethers won't be the same without him laughing and smiling at the head of the table, but the beautiful memories of such occasions will keep us warm.

It's so amazing to witness the far reach of such a great man who had a marked impact on so many. He inspires me in so many facets of my life, from physical fitness and mental fortitude, to expressing love, kindness, and generosity.  For all my 25 years on this earth I’ve been incredibly blessed to have a grandfather like Assefa there for me every step of the way, an absolute joy and source of never-ending love, support, and adoration. Our family has suffered a huge loss, however the love he imparted on us endlessly will be our source of strength in moving forward. Every kind word, action, and lesson he gave us will stay with us, and in that way he can never truly leave us. Love you dearly Assefa Meshesha, so lucky to have known and loved you in my lifetime.

Gashye, I thought I was a  strong person that kept it together through life's ups and downs.  I always kept my emotion in check and immerse myself in the details of making a painful situation as beautiful as possible.

Your timing of departure caught me unprepared. Staying home and not be with family, I found myself face to face with unbearable loss. Gasheye, I do not understand this feeling of losing control. I lost my beloved  Dad, my Mom, my Aunts, Ababuye, Abatye and so many more, very dear to my heart.  I suppressed my feeling so deep I use to think its because I handle loss so well.   You were my brother, my friend, and confidant.  We fought like kids and made up as if it never happened.  You new me since I was a baby.   It is the hardest thing to go through memory lane and not feel excruciating pain.  

In theory, I know the secret of love is to actually let your loved one's journey to that Holy place where there is no pain.  I ask myself, if I believe in God and know the only way to HE is by exiting the world we so attached to, why do I feel so much pain to say goodbye?

They say memories of loved ones sustain you in times of grief.  
So, when does peace replace the pain?

All I can do is pray,  for the good Lord to show us a way to that peaceful place of acceptance.  

Gashye, until we meet again, May You Rest In Eternal Peace and be our Angel to welcome us to Heaven.

Love you.



Gash Assefa:
The Unselfish smile and deeply loving grace and tenderness you showered me with is what keeps me going!! As flesh, I am very weak!! Your departure to the heavens and your physical absence has left a HUGE HOLE in my CHEST!! How can I and the rest of the family cope  with this GIGANTIC loss? The only Solace I get is your spiritual communication from the HEAVENS!! In a Vintage Gash Assefa way, you with your tender face and gorgeous smile gently sheepherding me to keep LIVING!! You assuring me that you are eternally with us and HOLDING IT DOWN for us in the HEAVENS!! You gently holding me and assuring me that you’re OK!! To be STRONG!! KEEP the Love flowing and hold on to each other! Gashe I am feeling your love and unflinching strength!!! Love You ETERNALLY!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

"Nothing is Forever" was something he said to me recently as he saw the changes happening to him because of his health. He was sad that, unlike what he was used to, he was living his life not by his own terms but by others.  He was getting more service instead of his usual giving service to his loved ones. As much as I tried and wished for it not to happen, the inevitable that is the fate of all human beings happened to a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend, mentor. A wonderful, fair, kind, far seeing intelligent person who made positive impacts  on so many people.  
I will miss him so much and to say I am sad is an understatement. I am who I am because of him. He is part of me. Still I have to come to terms with the fact that he;  had a beautiful long life with the love of his life Mamaye (Mary T. Ambatchew)  for more than 60 years ,  knew his children and grandchildren are all in  good places,  had lived a life of integrity and enjoyed the respect and love of so many people in his life ,  saw so much of the world and shared his experiences freely with all he knew, especially with his younger new friends, and  has been actively involved supporting issues that are dear to him. He lived a full life and fulfilled his duty in all aspects. His life ahead would have been an extremely difficult one. So, when the overwhelming feeling of my loss hits hard, like when I remember how I was never worried or scared to discuss anything with him because he would always give me his honest opinion and not judge me for not agreeing, or I miss seeing his happiness when he spends time with his grand kids, or his amazement at new technologies, or his welcoming smile as he gets up to greet, or his habit of seeing all visitors young and old to their cars, or just because  I love him and miss him, I remind myself that he deserves to rest.  I am so thankful to have been blessed to have him as a father.  Rest in Peace Abebaye. 

Gashe Assefa we miss you.  Your smile brough ligth to the room,  your positive outlook of life  was very encouraging. You made each person  feel special.  You gave respect to every one equally young or old big or small didn't matter to  you. You were a very special person.  May God rest your soul in peace and give strength and comfort to your family.

                                
Touch  Our  Hearts
 Some people come into our lives and quickly go  Others stay For
awhile and touch our hearts So deeply that we are never the same

Gashe Assefeye, I will miss the twinkle in your eyes, the  kiss on my forehead and the love you gave freely.  

Thank you for the wisdom you shared and the love of your country,  your family and friends. 

I will  love you always And miss you Forever.  I pray that Babye, Lilliye, Mamo and the rest of the family will be comforted by All the wonderful memories they had with You, Gashe Assefeye . 

God Bless 

My grandfather filled a void of love for so many people. People would often call him their "adopted grandfather" because he loved so many as though they were his own children and grandchildren, and they loved him back. He would refer to people he'd only met once or twice as "my friend" and welcomed people into his life with open arms. 

There are certain things that will always remind me of him. Certain songs or dances or jokes or places. While it pains me that he won't be there to enjoy them with us anymore, they will always bring a smile to my face when I think of all the memories we have had together. 

It was a privilege being his granddaughter. Being on the receiving end of the limitless patience and love he had for all of us. He always had a way of making me feel so special. Even when I was a child and he would pick me up from school, I knew how lucky that meant I was, and as I grew into adulthood, even more so. 
 
As much as I wish he could have stayed with us forever, he lived a life full of joy, love and happiness up until the very end, and I thank God for every single second of it. 

Thank you for your love, Assefa. You will be missed by so many but your memory lives on. I love you. 


Ababaye I know you have seen a lot in your long life,  I hope more good than bad, you have seen one of your child taken but you’ve witnessed the two grow up into adult hood and start their own family and you have been around until they are both considered ‘senior citizens”. You’ve traveled the world in your young age and you’ve served your country well by your heroic duties in Korea and civilian service in Ethiopia.  You have been blessed to live a long life. But most of all we, your family have been blessed to have you as a father, wife and friend and mentor to many, we are indeed the luckier ones. 
But Ababaye I will always miss that smile I get when you see me, that will stay with in my heart forever I will use it to pick me up when I am down.
Ababaye, my perfect dad, my friend my hero, I don’t want to say goodbye but until we meet again, and please say hi to my brother Ababu. Rest in peace!

Your  Loving Mamush


We just want to extend our deepest condolences to Wzo Tebele, his children and his immediate family. May God bless his soul and give comfort to his family.

I used to enjoy my chats with gashe Assefa as I used to call him, whether it was about my grandfather Kenjazematch Haile Zelleka who died when I was young and who lived in Debre Zeit during gashe Assefa's days at the Imperial Air Force when he gave training there and whom gashe Assefa used to visit sometimes even with his friends or about his service in Korea or Congo or in general about the pre 1974 days of the history of our nation as I was a teenager at the start of the revolution and I did learn a lot in depth from gashe Assefa which I am grateful for he  will forever be missed. RIP gashe Assefa.

I regret that I did not get as much time as I wanted to spend with gash Assefa. However, whenever there was any opportunity, I made it a point to provoke him and sit next to him to listen to all the beautiful memories that he shared.  He was a walking dictionary of events. His presence was always  felt  wherever he sat in a hall or amidst a crowd.  He will be missed.  Rest In Peace gash Assefa! 

Gashe Assefa is a remarkable man.  

Ill never forget those moments, passing through Silver Spring, when I’d see some crazy old man jogging in plain clothes, only to realize that it was my Gashe Assefa.  

As humans we are taught to believe that you cannot beat death. They say you can't outwit or outsmart it.  

Gashe Assefa taught me that you can.  

He was truly a man who grew up but never grew old. He was tenacious, fought every battle to the end, and won. Death grew weary of losing to the amicable, heartwarming, incredible man Gashe Assefa was--smiling in its face as he would race children to his car in his 80’s.  And so it cheated, because it could never take him fair and square.  

As a parting gift, Gashe Assefa showed me the trick to a long life so fulfilled.  

If you fill your heart with a love for others, there is no more room for the negative. 

If you remain diligent, exercise discipline, and care for your body, nothing can stop you. 

Don’t let anyone tell you what is or is not possible. If you think you can, you can. If you can, you will.  

I never knew my grandfathers; all my life I wished for one. It took me much too long to realize that hhe never thought of me as anything else. 

 Thank you for blessing my life with your presence. I am better because of you. 

I can never forget you. I will never forget you. Rest in peace Assefeye 

May peace and comfort find you during this difficult time


Gashe Assefa was one person I can discuss anything, current events, current Ethiopian politics, history and more.  He was a well informed person. When I go the D.C. area for business or other trips I always make sure to visit Etemete and Gashe Assefa. I always remember his similes, respect, and care when I go to visit. He will say Assegedu or sorry I forgot Elleneye,  kiss on the forehead. The last time I visited was December 2019 he was very weak and forgot to kiss me on the forehead and I left the house very sad. I will miss the conversation, discussion and the laugh. Nevertheless, I feel happy because I know he went to a  better place in the comfort of his Father's house in heaven. Gashe Assefa you were a gentle soul  May You Rest In Peace.  

When I think of Gash Assefa, the first thing that comes to mind is the smile that always graced his face. He radiated a warmth that stayed with you and had a kind and gentle spirit. Although he may no longer be with us in body, I will always carry the memory of him in my heart.

A beautiful day with you and Liliye. An outing with fun activities, ice cream, cappucino, cakes and cotton candy ...capped with a surprise to see paintings of Gash Gebru. We used to recount the events of that day and laugh our hearts out every time we met. 

Drear Babyie,Lily and Mammo 
Our deepest condolences on the loss of Gashie Assefa. He was not only a husband a father but our father and friend. 
We missed talking to him when ever we get together about any topics,  We all enjoyed every minutes of it. It is a great loss not only for you but everyone one of us who knows him for so many years. 
Menelik &Emebet. 

I’ll forever remember the way Gashe Assefa commanded attention whenever he entered the room. He is a true legend and will be dearly missed. My love to Eteye Tebele, Liliye, Mamo and the rest of the family. I hope that your memories live on and keep you comforted. 

Gash Assefeye, you will remain in our hearts forever. May your soul rest in eternal peace.  We love you!

I will remember Gache Assefa for his warm greetings with beautiful smile! I wish we could keep him for much much longer among us!! May God keep him in his loving care!!

Abe (Gash Assefa) was like a father to me. 
He is one of those people who has made great impressions; who positively influenced and guided me throughout my life.  

Unlike many in his generation, he was very generous with his time and also capable of talking to children like adults.
He was a quintessentially modern father figure whom we loved and cherished.  He exposed us to the modern ways of life; having a good time and going out to town.  He used to take us to Ras Hotel, Genet Hotel...for snacks and deserts.

During our childhood, Lily and I used to take piano lessons.  To encourage our commitment to music, he took us to a Duke Ellington concert when Duke came to Ethiopia.  That was one of the many memorable moments I had with him.  He told us to aspire, to do better and to imagine our future. 

In all these occasions, I always enjoyed the interactions I had with him. I will miss him dearly and will always cherish these beautiful memories.

So long Abe!!  I love you

Sharing in your sadness as you remember Gashe Assefa.

I’m remember when I was attending West Virginia University and Assefa took me back to school on a long 4 hour drive. It meant the world to me. We shared laughs all the way there. He had the uncanny ability to make you feel like a man, he had love in his eyes, a true role model. A family man in its truest form. His militant appearance was something I admired silently but always showed my appreciation thru every hug. I don’t think I hugged a person tighter. Love Forever.

Gash Assefa was one of the warmest and kindest person I know. He was always smiling. I will cherish the memory of an exceptionally loving and kind man.
We pray that his family may find comfort in his memory and his legacy in these difficult times.

Gash Assefa was a kind, thoughtful, considerate, and sentient human being. I have many great memories of him, but I have one priceless memory that has been seared in my consciousness for decades, and I think it encapsulates what a kind human he was.

I was 4 years old playing on the floor in the hallway of their home in Ethiopia. I happened to be wearing my favorite overalls which were colorful and had an English word embossed across the chest. At the time, I did not know what word the letters meant to spell or its meaning, only that a few of the letters had fallen off through repeated wear. That day, seeing Gash Assefa walking down the hallway, I asked him what the word was. Without hesitating, he turned and started to come in my direction. I looked up as this tall, gentle, and kind man came closer to me and lowered himself all the way to the floor to meet me at eye level. Kneeling in front of me, Gashe spelled out the letters slowly, filling in the missing parts: “b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l”. He motioned for me to try to spell it with him, and we did it together. Happy now that the puzzle was finally solved, I asked him what the word meant. He gently squeezed both of my big cheeks and said to me: “that means you.” He gave me a long reassuring smile, and after seeing my glee, he raised himself up, and went on his way.

For me, that is the epitome of who Gash Assefa was. A man who was kind and patient and saw the opportunity in a small child’s question to stop, show love, and provide reassurance. A man who, however important he was, was willing to lower himself in order to lift you up.

I have since had several other memories of Gash Assefa.  During my wedding he masterfully and patiently facilitated the “Dabo naming ceremony”. He always knew the right things to say, and I was the beneficiary of his wisdom when he counseled me through my grandmother’s passing. But due to that priceless moment we shared when I was a toddler, he has long had a special place in my heart.

I am deeply sorrowed and grieved by the loss of Gashe  Assefa. He was a loving , caring, and devoted family man, who was a source of pride and an idol to all who knew him. 
Gashe was  an endless source of wisdom and knowledge, and whoever sat down with him (to discuss life , politics or current affair) would know what I mean. Whenever I sat down with Gashe Assefa, he has helped me to reconsider the mind set and the beliefs I had before hand. I shall always cherish his memory of kindness, compassion, and unbiased feelings towards race, age or gender. I will deeply miss Gashe for a long time to come. May he rest in peace.

My deepest condolences to Etemetye, and to all their beautiful children and grandchildren.


Gash Assefa was an amazing man. Loving, fun, and full or energy. He would always have an amazing smile on his face and I don’t think anyone could be in a bad mood around him. I will miss everything about his beautiful spirit, but I know he will always be with us. We love you so much Gash Assefa ❤️❤️❤️

Gashe Asefa. I always loved you respected you. After loosing both Teshome and Weneshe you been great uncle and always showed us love. May Lord keep you by his side in heaven. We love you and God bless
Danie Teshome
Kidist
Simon 

The loss of a loved one is always difficult, but this feels heavier. It's a huge loss for all of Gash Assefa's family and friends, but it also somehow feels like we've lost a piece of history. He was a guardian of stories, secrets, and memories that many had long forgotten or were never aware of. Those lucky enough to spend quality time with him were treated with pieces of that knowledge and wisdom, with stories of adventures that spanned continents, and most usually were accompanied by his bright-eyed laugh. He will be so missed, but his spirit will be remembered for years to come. 

Gashe has always been someone I looked up to. I have always enjoyed talking to him  I will never forget his kindness. May God give him eternal rest and the family the strength to bear this huge pain.Please accept our condolences and may our prayers help comfort you.

Dave Teshome  & Elone Alemayehu 


When I was little, I was so jealous of my cousin’s Aida, Zaena and Kaleb. Every Friday was grandparent’s day, all the grand-kids would spend every Friday with Gash Assefa and Mamaye. Whenever I would go, I would feel guilty feeling like I was crashing their special time. Never once did Gash Assefa or Mamaye make me feel out of place or that I didn’t belong. I loved Gash Assefa like he was my own grandfather and I truly believe he saw me as grandchild. I will love you always, thank you for always making me feel like I belonged. 

Gash Assefye,

It is hard to say goodbye,
when you feel so near
I still expect to see your contagious smile
Perhaps sitting on your favorite chair
playing pick-a-boo with Josi
Joking around with your liyti
Or talking about the state of our nation
To amy and tadi with deep passion

It is indeed hard to say goodbye
When you are the apple of our eye
And take up such a huge space in our hearts
And surround us with your loving kindness,
With your wisdom and chivalrous acts

Oh, how I loved the way
you treated emamaye
like the empress that she is
Opened doors and cars,
Full on waltz and romance
For not 1, 2 but 64 years
A textbook definition of class!

To be honest, with you, we all felt like kings and queens
loved and affirmed by your kind words

You never even let us walk to the car alone
How can I now believe that you are gone?

It sure is hard to say goodbye, truly
Coming to you was to be loved unconditionally
You somehow surpassed our bad and found a million good
You spoke of each of us like we were pure gold
Being with you, even for few moments was food to the soul
A sweet jolt to the mind and joy for the mood

You joked, you laughed, and you educated
You spoke from a wealth of experience and wisdom gained
Truth, tried and tested
From living in a diversified world

All could testify of your righteousness
Your families, your friends
Your brief and prolonged encounters,
From Korea to Congo
Ethiopia to the United States
Attest of your love and kindness

From the tough soldier
To the little toddler
All could see your light
And couldn’t help but fall in love with your heart

Always the encourager
A true light worker
Of course, it is impossible to say goodbye
When you stay in our hearts forever

 
WE LOVE YOU, GASH ASSEFYE!!
May you rest in power!!

Gashe Assefa, I have known you for the last 27 years. You were my mentor and a special friend. Each day I met you was so special. I will treasure your words of wisdom and always carry it in my heart. Though I am deeply saddened, you will always live in my heart. Heaven has gained an angel. I will always love you and miss you. Rest in paradise my angelic friend.

Mamo and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you mourn the loss of your father.  One of God's greatest gifts is "memories".  Your DAD will live on in your heart and memories forever.  2 Corinthians 5:8, states, that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  Mr. Meshesha Assefa is now present with the Lord.

Please call me if there is anything I can do for you or your family.
With deepest sympathy,
Jo Fisher-Hall

OBITUARY

Assefa Banchi Meshesha

22 October, 1931 – 13 June, 2020

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home

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