Obituary for Leopold Kumbakisaka
Dr. Leopold Jean-Paul Choppard Useni Yumbi Kumbakisaka passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, after a courageous battle with kidney failure.
Leopold was born in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on February 26th, 1954 to Lufusu and Useni Kumbakisaka. He is preceded in death by his brothers Xavier and Beaudoin.
His greatest love was for his family, his devoted wife, Marie-Therese, and for his children, Rene (Beth), Marie-Christine & Patricia, and his grandchildren, Patrick, John and Leonidas.
In his line of work in journalism and diplomacy, Leopold has lived, worked, and traveled around the world including Austria, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece prior to settling in Canada. Leopold was fluent in 6 languages: French, English, Greek, Lingala, Romanian and Swahili.
Anyone who knew Leopold knew he was very charismatic person and extremely passionate about journalism and global issues. He devoted his entire career life in both journalism and diplomacy. Since a young age he was always the brightest in his class and field.
He was a very well-known journalist from DRC and at that time he also worked at one of the largest stations called la voix du Zaire. He studied journalism in Kinshasa at DRC, at the institute superieur des techniques informatique, he than ended up getting a job with the government of DRC in the diplomatic core, and they sent him to work in the Balkan regions.
Leopold had the opportunity to meet with world leaders such as past Presidents of Romania, Nicolae Ceaușescu & Ion Iliescu, Past Prime Minister of Greece Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Past President of France ,Francois Mitterand and various other world leaders.
He than got his Masters and PhD in IATC in Bucharest, Romania. Leopold and his family moved to Bucharest, Romania in 1984 until 1991. He than continued his work in Athens, Greece where he was posted for 7 years, while in Greece he also published an article Media Balkans Internationale which focused on his diplomatic work in the Balkan regions.
In February 2000 Leopold and his family immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada. Leopold than started working with CBC French Radio-Canada, and later on worked for envol91 and was also helping a lot of new commers settling in Canada with SFM(Société Franco-Manitobain).
He had also taught at the University of St Boniface. Even when he retired, he still continued to publish and write his newspaper called Le courier de l’ouest and he also started Radio Francophones des Ameriques.
Leopold will be greatly missed by his family and friends around the world. He will be remembered for his kind heart, intellect and overall amazing personality.
The family would like to thank the wonderful doctors, nurses and all medical staff at Health sciences center Hospital, St Boniface Hospital during dad’s long journey to recover and Grace General Hospital – (ICU), doctors nurses, and all medical staffs who were involved in dad’s care
We will honour and celebrate Leopold’s life on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at McIvor Church, 200 McIvor Avenue, Winnipeg Manitoba, and interment will be at Glen Eden Gardens, 4477 Main Street, West St-Paul, Manitoba.
Donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation.
Leopold was born in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on February 26th, 1954 to Lufusu and Useni Kumbakisaka. He is preceded in death by his brothers Xavier and Beaudoin.
His greatest love was for his family, his devoted wife, Marie-Therese, and for his children, Rene (Beth), Marie-Christine & Patricia, and his grandchildren, Patrick, John and Leonidas.
In his line of work in journalism and diplomacy, Leopold has lived, worked, and traveled around the world including Austria, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece prior to settling in Canada. Leopold was fluent in 6 languages: French, English, Greek, Lingala, Romanian and Swahili.
Anyone who knew Leopold knew he was very charismatic person and extremely passionate about journalism and global issues. He devoted his entire career life in both journalism and diplomacy. Since a young age he was always the brightest in his class and field.
He was a very well-known journalist from DRC and at that time he also worked at one of the largest stations called la voix du Zaire. He studied journalism in Kinshasa at DRC, at the institute superieur des techniques informatique, he than ended up getting a job with the government of DRC in the diplomatic core, and they sent him to work in the Balkan regions.
Leopold had the opportunity to meet with world leaders such as past Presidents of Romania, Nicolae Ceaușescu & Ion Iliescu, Past Prime Minister of Greece Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Past President of France ,Francois Mitterand and various other world leaders.
He than got his Masters and PhD in IATC in Bucharest, Romania. Leopold and his family moved to Bucharest, Romania in 1984 until 1991. He than continued his work in Athens, Greece where he was posted for 7 years, while in Greece he also published an article Media Balkans Internationale which focused on his diplomatic work in the Balkan regions.
In February 2000 Leopold and his family immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada. Leopold than started working with CBC French Radio-Canada, and later on worked for envol91 and was also helping a lot of new commers settling in Canada with SFM(Société Franco-Manitobain).
He had also taught at the University of St Boniface. Even when he retired, he still continued to publish and write his newspaper called Le courier de l’ouest and he also started Radio Francophones des Ameriques.
Leopold will be greatly missed by his family and friends around the world. He will be remembered for his kind heart, intellect and overall amazing personality.
The family would like to thank the wonderful doctors, nurses and all medical staff at Health sciences center Hospital, St Boniface Hospital during dad’s long journey to recover and Grace General Hospital – (ICU), doctors nurses, and all medical staffs who were involved in dad’s care
We will honour and celebrate Leopold’s life on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at McIvor Church, 200 McIvor Avenue, Winnipeg Manitoba, and interment will be at Glen Eden Gardens, 4477 Main Street, West St-Paul, Manitoba.
Donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation.