Joseph Kabemba Biabululu Wa Mayombo

Joseph Kabemba Biabululu wa Mayombo passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2015 after a prolonged and courageous battle with prostate cancer. He spent his last days at South Bay Hospital (Sun City, FL) surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Katanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo where he graduated from Le Collège Saint Jean-Berchmans de Kamponde, and received his bachelors and medical degrees from l'Université Lovanium with highest honors. He went on to complete a residency at Yale University Medical Center (New Haven, CT) with a specialty in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, where he became chief resident. In 1971, Dr. Kabemba joined the faculty of medicine at the Université Nationale du Zaire (UNAZA) as the country's first Congolese born cardio-thoracic surgeon. In this capacity, Dr. Kabemba served as professor of surgery and later was appointed Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of Surgery in 1978. During his tenure, Dr. Kabemba initiated many substantive improvements to the education and practice of medicine and surgery at UNAZA, impacting the lives of medical students and patients alike. Dr. Kabemba trained hundreds of residents and fellows, and mentored countless medical students and colleagues. He was keenly interested in learning about others' educational aspirations and his commitment to the health profession - through his teaching, service and numerous publications - has been recognized at the highest levels in his field, both in his native country and internationally. He married Bernadette Mujinga wa Ngoyi on January 22, 1962 and they were blessed with nine children over their 53 year marriage. He loved his family and his Roman Catholic faith, and his sharp intellectual curiosity kept him young in mind and heart. Dr. Kabemba was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Mayombo and Marie Mushiya, his two brothers Matthew and George and by his sister, Madeline. He is survived by his wife, Bernadette; his children: Albert, Pascal, Marie Kabemba-Warren, Nicole Kabemba-Vunda, George, Kizito, Suzanne, Charles and Evelyn; twenty grandchildren; and five sisters: Susanne, Louise, Charlotte, Celestine and Henriette. His generous spirit and wise counsel will be missed tremendously by family and friends.