In Memoriam
Sofia Temesgien Gobena was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on August
18, 1964. She came to the United States of America in July 1972 with
her parents, Abebetch B. and Temesgien Gobena. She attended William
Ramsey Elementary and T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria,
Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from
Antioch College in Ohio. She holds a Master of Arts in ceramics and
glass from the University of Wisconsin at Madison as well as
completing work for her Master of Fine Arts.
With a brilliance, humility, passion, and grace that came to define
her over the course of her life, Sofia easily mastered a new language
and a new culture on arrival in America. Her travels around the world
inspired her diverse artwork. Throughout her life, she loved education
and educating. She had a thirst for knowledge and the hunger to
understand, explore, and process the wonder of the world. Sofia not
only loved learning, but she also loved teaching as well, having
taught individuals of all ages, from preschool through college.
Sofia was at home everywhere and everyone who met her instantly
felt as if she had known them forever. Those who had the pleasure of
knowing her quickly found out that she was an extremely generous
person - giving both of her time and art. She always put others’
needs above hers. She was a nurturing person, encouraging others to
reach into their souls and reach their potential. She had a warm,
wonderful sense of humor - bringing joy and laughter to people around
her. She was an extremely gregarious individual who loved her
relatives and friends dearly
Sofia's wondrous spirit expressed itself most powerfully and
profoundly through her extraordinary artistic talent. She was
imaginative, a creator at the highest level. Her art professors and
colleagues described her abilities as transcendent and the kind of
talent that comes around perhaps once a decade. Thankfully, she has
blessed us by being a prodigious artist, leaving behind numerous
paintings, sculptures, glasswork, and ceramic pieces that are
testament to the beauty of her creative spirit.
As we, on this anniversary, celebrate Sofie's artistic gift to the
world, the quote: "For life and death are one…" from her
favorite writer, Kahlil Gibran, comforts us. Though passed on, she
remains with us through her unique and beautiful works that illuminate
the way she saw the world. And Sofie's spirit lives on in our hearts
and minds.
Sofia passed on at the age of 38 in Madison, Wisconsin, of cardiac
arrest, on June 21, 2003. She was buried at Qeraneo Medhane Alem
Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 1,
2003.
We will always love, miss, and remember Sofia.
