John and I both started off as Fellows with USAID/Sudan, in Nairobi back in 2005. John was known by everyone in this large family of USAID missions housed together here in Kenya. John's Kenyan mates were notified of his death as soon as the Americans. John had a lot of friends here, many of whom were trapped in various parts of the country with violence still going on at the time.
We here all felt quite powerless hearing about the attacks and not being able to do anything. I'm sure John's freinds and family felt that same helplessness in the States. We lost John only a few months after he was assigned to Khartoum, a place he really didn't like that well, and now we've lost him again. I can't believe he won't be coming back.
John's family, please know that John's life will be celebrated here. He'll always be a part of the people whose life he touched, and in Africa, John touched a great many people's life.
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Other reader comments on this article
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Date
May he rest in peace. My heart still aches when i see his pictures. My sincere condolences to his family... [MORE]
May Osama
May 14, 2008 11:23
First, to all involved, my most heartfelt condolences on the tragic events regarding John Granville.
Every couple of years, I do... [MORE]
Rob Goldsmith
Mar 17, 2008 21:42
I have finally gathered enough courage to read the articles on the web with regards to John's sudden passing. I... [MORE]
Anne Sumbeiywo
Feb 19, 2008 05:18
Yesterday I had the honor of attending John Granville's funeral. Never have I felt such pain for a family, pride... [MORE]
Sue
Jan 10, 2008 10:19
To Julia, the mother and family of John Granville,
I met your uncle in Nairobi at the East Africa Kennel Club,... [MORE]
Ana Maria Ferraz de Campos
Jan 10, 2008 02:13
John and I both started off as Fellows with USAID/Sudan, in Nairobi back in 2005. John was known by everyone...
Mike
Jan 10, 2008 08:12
It is sad for his family and friends to have this news. We were together in the Nuba Mountains Southern... [MORE]
Worku Tegegne
Jan 11, 2008 01:35
The significance of supplying radios to a rural population does not impact most people. On my last trip to Sudan,... [MORE]
Cindy Castano
Jan 6, 2008 16:36
I started my American journey with John Granville in 1997 when he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in my village,... [MORE]
Andre Guy Soh
Jan 5, 2008 18:48
Dear sir;
Can you please explain to those of us who are unfamiliar with your ways what a traditional funeral in... [MORE]
Debbie
Jan 6, 2008 00:07
Your words were very touching. It was so nice to hear of the wonderful bond you had with John and... [MORE]
Ann
Jan 20, 2008 20:24
I met John at Clark University in Worcester, MA and reconnected with him in Nairobi in 2005. At that time,... [MORE]
Darren
Jan 5, 2008 00:42
I encountered John on a number of occasions whilst I was working for the aid agency GOAL in Kurmuk, Southern... [MORE]
Jim Clarken
Jan 4, 2008 08:34
Uncle John was my uncle. He is very missed, and we are getting his dog. We were close, and I... [MORE]
Julia
Jan 3, 2008 20:50
Dear Julia,
Your Uncle John was an amazing man as you know. He was a hero to the people in Africa... [MORE]
Debbie
Jan 4, 2008 23:26
To the mother and family of John Granville,
Please know that there are average Americans like me who read about your... [MORE]
Becky
Jan 5, 2008 10:31
If anyone needed more proof that the entire world is under attack by radical Muslims, this should provide more than... [MORE]
John Spencer Yantiss
Jan 2, 2008 14:46
The death of John Granville is a tragedy not only his family, but the entire population of southern Sudanese people,... [MORE]