Gbadebo, Obisesan A,

Obisesan Adeniyi Gbadebo, 79, of Windsor, CT peacefully entered eternal rest surrounded by his loved ones on January 17th.

Obisesan (Obi) was born on August 14,1944 in Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria to his mother, Omoleyo Alice Ajayi-Obe and father, Oni Emmanuel Gbadebo.

Obi lead a full and vital life with family and friends. He deeply valued family above all. He knew how to enjoy life. He appreciated the simple things, laughed with his whole body, and never missed an opportunity to celebrate. His spirit was generous and joyous. He was a lifelong learner, valued education, travel and adventure, music and art, and of course soccer.

In his youth, Obi completed undergraduate studies at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State and worked with the National Model United Nations, traveling to New York, and countries in Eastern and Western Europe in his teen and early adult years. In 1968, Obi immigrated to the United States and began studies at Ohio University where he completed a Masters of Finance degree and earned a Masters of Business Administration. He later earned a Juris Doctor with a focus on corporate law at the University of Iowa where he met his wife and soulmate, Evonnie. They married in Ilesha, Nigeria in 1975 and honeymooned in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. Obi worked at Citibank in Nairobi, Kenya. Evonnie and Obi later moved to Massachusetts where he worked for First National Bank of Boston.

In 1977, he became a proud father with the arrival of his first daughter, Adepeju. Obi's family then moved to West Hartford, CT and later Bloomfield, CT where Obi worked for Phoenix Mutual Insurance Company and The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, as investment banking head of the African Division. During the 1980s, he traveled internationally on business throughout many African, European and Asian nations, and welcomed his second daughter, Monisola. Obi's family relocated to Maryland at which time Obi founded his own international finance and trade company, Cowrie Capital, Inc. In Maryland, Obi and Evonnie welcomed their third daughter, Adekemi. Together they raised three daughters who have since completed university academic studies and established their own families and careers.

Obi and Evonnie returned to CT in the late 1990s. Obi continued to build his company with his business partner, Joseph Oluseye Oshunpidan of Bloomfield, CT. Obi is missed deeply by his immediate family: wife, Evonnie Terry Gbadebo and daughters, Dr. Adepeju Gbadebo Champion of Sudbury, MA, Monisola Gbadebo of Carpentersville, IL, and Adekemi Gbadebo of Alameda, CA. In addition, Obi is loved dearly by his five grandchildren, Walter Champion, IV, Elise Champion, William Champion, Lenore Gbadebo Yoder and Yemaya Gbadebo-Mayers.

Obi's extended family with sorrow mourn his passing, his sisters, Adejoke and Olabisi (Ilesha, Nigeria) and his brother, Mr. Olasupo Gbadebo, civil engineer for the state of CT, his sister in law, Mrs. Omowumi Gbadebo, and their children, Oluwatoyin and Oluwatobi (West Hartford, CT).

There will be a memorial service at 11 AM at Carmon Funeral Home , 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor on Wednesday, January 25th, with a viewing at 10 AM. A burial service will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Bloomfield.

To leave condolences or to attend remotely visit: www.carmonfuneralhome.com

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