Farewell to Andemariam Teklesenbet

It is with our deepest regret that we announce the death of Andemariam Teklesenbet, geophysicist from Eritrea, who passed away on Thursday 30 January. Andemariam died after several years of battling a difficult illness through which he showed courage and dignity to the very end.  

Andemariam came first to Iceland in 2007 as a UNU-GTP Fellow sent by the Geological Survey of Eritrea where he had been employed since 2004. Andemariam returned to Iceland in 2009 to pursue a master’s degree in geophysics at the University of Iceland, under a UNU-GTP Fellowship. It was at that time his serious illness was discovered. He received excellent, and even unique, medical treatment from the very beginning, and was able to continue his studies alongside the treatment.  He completed his studies in early 2012. Andemariam had previously obtained his BSc at the University of Asmara in Eritrea.

After completing his master’s degree Andemariam still needed to be under special medical supervision and hence could not return to his home. Subsequently he was offered a temporary position with ISOR - Iceland GeoSurvey, where he worked on research projects with the geophysics team as well as supervising UNU-GTP Fellows.

Our heartfelt condolences go to Andemariam’s wife, Merhawit, and their three young sons who grief now the loss of a husband and a father. We say goodbye to our friend and colleague whom we remember as a polite and intelligent man who approached life with great serenity. He will be missed!

A memorial was held Monday 3rd March where the former Director of UNU-GTP, Ingvar B. Fridleifsson, gave a in memoriam in the presence of his friends, coworkers and family.