ENTC lost one of its own – Rest in Peace Prof. Meseret Chekol Reta
November 20, 2012
It is with deepest sorrow and regret that the Leadership Council of ENTC announces the loss of our member Prof. Meseret Chekol Reta, who was an active and dynamic member and advisor of ENTC since its inception representing Minneapolis. ENTC lost a dear friend and one of its greatest members. The leadership of ENTC on behalf of all its members sends its condolence to his family and ask all its members to remember him in their prayers. Professor Meseret Chekol Reta was professor of Journalism at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He died of liver cancer on November 17, 2012. He was only 55-year-old and is survived by his wife and a daughter.
Following is a press release by a Meseret Chekol Reta Fund group:
It is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend Dr. Meseret Checkol Reta in Minneapolis hospital on Saturday morning November 17th. He was recently diagnosed with cancer and was receiving treatment. Dr. Meseret was a kind and dedicated person always so helpful to everyone. His insightful and in-depth analysis of Ethiopian media and politics through the Voice of America and other media outlets, his research papers and other community services are just to mention a few. His upcoming book, The Quest for Press Freedom: One Hundred Years of History of the Media in Ethiopia, “examines the building of a modern media institution over the last one hundred years of its existence, and the restrictions against its freedoms.”
Dr. Meseret was also instrumental in establishing the Ethiopian Biographical Resource Center (EBRC) and has served the center as president since October 2007. The idea of establishing EBRC was born out of a growing awareness that many Ethiopians who made significant contributions to their country are passing away by the day without leaving for us an account of their contributions and life experience in any organized form. Under Dr. Meseret’s leadership, the center has launched projects to record biographical interviews of prominent Ethiopians who served their country faithfully. Please see the attached document for more highlights of Dr. Meseret’s achievements. The funeral service for Dr. Meseret will take place on Saturday, November 24th in Minneapolis/MN. Please keep his wife, his daughter and the rest of the family in your thoughts and prayers. Donations in memory & honor of Dr. Meseret can be sent to the following account:
Messeret Chekol Reta Fund
US Federal Credit Union
Account Number 276105
Routing number 291074722
2535 27th Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Or contact the treasurer at the following address:
Eddle Senay
9216 59th Avenue N
New Hope, MN 55428