Eric Paschal Kwodwo Mensah-Brown, MBCHB, Ph.D., died in hospice care at home in Blue Springs, Missouri, on April 7, 2020, at the age of 66. He battled multiple myeloma and amyloidosis of the heart.  

Eric was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Hannah Mensah-Brown, and his brother Isaac Mensah-Brown of Elmina, Ghana.  He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Mary and his children Efua Mensah-Brown, Aba Mensah-Brown, and her husband Jonas, Efe Sellu and her husband Tony, and Kobina “Kobie” Mensah-Brown.  He is also survived by his brothers Pastor Henry Mensah-Brown and family, Peter Mensah-Brown and family,

and the family of his late brother, Isaac Mensah-Brown. 
Eric was born in Kumasi, Ghana, where the family lived with their mother’s parents and siblings, the Folson family of Elmina.  He attended boarding school at St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast.  He also attended the University of Ghana Medical School in 1980. After obtaining his MBChB degree, he moved to the University of Leicester, England, where he completed his Ph.D. in embryology. Eric returned to Ghana as a lecturer and general medical practitioner. He also worked as a senior lecturer at the University of Transkei in South Africa before joining the College of Medicine at the United Arab Emirates University in 1992 as an assistant professor of Anatomy.  His research interests and extensive work in Anatomy earned him his full professorship.  His research interests included morphological studies of the camel and the Houbara bustard. For the last few years, Eric had worked on studying autoimmune diabetes and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). The highlights of his studies on autoimmunity included observations on the role of microglia as antigen-presenting cells in EAE; the role of interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 and Toll-like receptor two pathways in experimentally induced diabetes, where interferon-gamma served as a facilitator rather than an opposing factor. Throughout his life, Eric most enjoyed serving the Lord through teaching the Word of God. He also loved teaching anatomy to medical students around the world. He received the best teacher award several times. Everyone who met Eric noticed his bubbly smile, laughter and extreme passion for people. He had a broad interest in many things including, apologetics, philosophy of religions, reading, singing, playing the guitar, and traveling. In the past, he had been a keen tennis and soccer player. He loved his family deeply and transferred the same love to the students in his care. But most importantly, he loved the Lord and never failed to put into perspective the importance of heaven- bound living– this earth is not our final home.   

Owing to current circumstances, a private funeral with immediate family will take place on April 18, 2020.  A Memorial Service and reception will be held at a later date, pending the COVID-19 situation.  All will be welcome to attend and celebrate Eric’s life. The time and place of the service are TBD.  

Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO  816-847-4441