Gebere and the late Weizero Etagenyehu Negusa. His siblings Amarashet, Getenesh, the
late Zenaba and their children and grandchildren reside in Ethiopia. Asefa was raised by his
Uncle, the late Ato Gebrewold Engidawork.
He is survived by his wife Haregowoein, his three daughters Etaghenyehu, Tegest and
Bethlehem, his grandchildren Ayana, Ayeda and Jeremiah and family members in the United
States and Ethiopia. Asefa was a loving husband, a dedicated father and a supportive family
member.
Asefa received his HS Honors Diploma from Secondary School in Ambo, Ethiopia. He attended
the Agricultural College in Alemya, Ethiopia where he received a Bachelors of Science Degree.
He then received a scholarship to attend a historically black college, Tuskegee Institute in
Tuskegee, Alabama, where he received two Masters Degree in Plant Science and Animal
Science.
His professional career began at the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Disease
Control in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as a Veterinary Training Leader. Subsequently, he was a
Parasitology Technologist at the Ministry of Public Health, Department of Central Laboratory in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After relocating to the United States, he worked as a Research Assistant
at the Department of Physiology at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. He then
worked as a Clinical Technologist at the Department of Hematology at the Metropolitan Hospital
in New York, NY. He spent the last 24 years as a Research Scientist at the Department of
Physiology at Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York in Brooklyn, NY. His
research work, along with his team, was published throughout the years.
Asefa Gebrewold was a devoted clergyman of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He is a founding
member of the first Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the Western Hemisphere, Holy Trinity Church
in Bronx, NY, where he was anointed by the late Abuna Yesaq and served as a Deacon. He
was also a founding member of the St. Mary of Zion Church back in 1991 where he was
anointed and promoted to Priesthood. Asefa worked tirelessly to serve and minister the
congregation.
The last 13 years Asefa was living with Alzheimer’s disease. He was under family care and
remained at his residence in Queens until his final day. Asefa peacefully left to be with the Lord
on Sunday, July 21st, 2019.
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