Musician and former member of the National Assembly, Michael Anthony Abraham AA, died this week at the age of 70, following several years of battling the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease.
In announcing his death on her Facebook page, his daughter, well-known radio personality, Michella Abraham-Ali, said her father died peacefully, surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and in-laws at home.
“Dad suffered for almost 7 years with a motor neuron disease called ALS. He was admitted to ICU on Saturday but due to the hospital staff never handling an ALS patient before, we opted to have him spend his remaining hours not connected to machines or health care personnel who could not understand that he was not a typical patient,” she wrote. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease
Well known journalist Francis Quamina Farrier, in a tribute to the late musician, said he had known him for over 40 years and he described him as a “very talented musician.”
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, in her tribute, fondly referred to Abraham as ‘Uncle Tony’, who she met in 1986 at the Sophia Exhibition Complex, where a large group of hinterland students were staying. The students had travelled to perform at the Guyana Festival of Arts at the National Cultural Centre.
During the stay at the complex, she recalled that ‘Uncle Tony’, a teacher at Nappi and a propagator of the arts, and his wife ‘Aunty Eleanor’ adopted her for that period of time, and it was her first time interacting with young Amerindians who spoke a second language.
“Aunty Eleanor combed my hair and Michella lent me her ribbons (I think I kept it) for the performance. It was an unforgettable experience and the beginning of my friendship with Uncle Tony and his dear wife. When I visited Nappi several years later in my capacity as Minister of Amerindian Affairs, the children from Nappi Primary School sang, “We all have a lesson to learn, to teach
ourselves that we are one….” Uncle Tony and Aunty Eleanor had taught them “my” song and they wanted me to listen. I did…with a wet face. We all had come a far way,” she wrote.
Abraham is originally from the Nappi Village but in recent years, he made Block X, Diamond, East Bank Demerara his home.
He was the son of the late Patrick and Mary Abraham of Moruca, and brother of Joseph Abraham of Hiawa, Dorothy James of Aishalton, Isabella Smith of Moruca, and the late Zita Abraham and Imelda Desouza
He is survived by his wife and children Bonita Sampson of GuySuCo, Michael Emile Abraham of GGMC, Divina Taschke of Australia, Alaric Abraham of GRA, Michella, John Abraham of GECOM, Anna Abraham of Demerara Bank Ltd, and Angela Abraham of GuySuCo. He also has adopted children, Doreen Bernard and Ricardo Edwards, and is also survived by several grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
He will be buried tomorrow, with the funeral service being held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam.
Burial will take place at Little Diamond Cemetery, near the Diamond Roman Catholic Church.
