A Tribute to Our Dad as Connector, Sower, Good Seed I recall Matthew 13: 38, where: "The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom..." If the mother is a nurturer, then the father must be the connector. He connected with his family, his community, his country, his world, and the Kingdom. That is why those who mourn him feel as if a piece of their living spirit has been lifted with his body. We remain connected to Prof. E.O. Adeniyi in many ways, and our past experiences that will live fresh in our minds and hearts forever. We call you Dad and Grandpa because that is what you are to me, my husband (Steve Akinbileje) and our children. You are our connecter, you connected with us as a caregiver, and a sower, sowing seeds of concern sprinkled with just the right blend of love and discipline. He stayed conneced with family, friends and colleagues by e-mail, snail mail, and—yes—via three cell phones (ah! LOL). His occasional and much anticipated personal visits allowed him to connect on the highest, lowest and most mediocre level of thought, always aiming higher--reaching, stepping, pointing, signaling to a life of greater service. Yet in a gentle and quiet way, he kindled the fires of ambition in the young and old, ever increasing their focus on the big picture: humanity. “There’s enough to go ‘round if we care to share,” now say your grandchildren. “That’s what grandpa says.” In our family, we saw him connect with our mother, father, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, colleagues ever expanding his circle of influence. He even realized a connection with our great granfather, an enslaved African who lived in Virginia, USA during post-Reconstruction period. Upon reaching the historic Parker Sydnor Log Cabin, Dad posed for a picture touching the cabin--again connecting--as if to say ‘we’ve come full circle.’ His field was the world, touching families who hailed from Africa, Europe, North America, Central America, South America, Australia, and Asia. Whomever he met, he planted a seed of hope, a seed of love, indeed, a good seed. His seed is a good seed that will sprout many more for the Kingdom. Que se descanse en paz. (May his soul rest in peace.) Bernice Reyes Akinbileje