Marcus Saye Gondah Dahn

Marcus Saye Gondah Dahn was born in a remote region of the Saclapea Mah Chiefdom, Nimba County, Liberia, on September 29, 1952, one of the youngest of many children of Paramount Chief Dahn Gborwin. Growing up in the Dahn compound, and, in the house of his mother, M'Blednein, he learned the meaning of work. He also  lived the adage, "it takes a village to raise a child," benefitting from the freedom to eat in whose ever kitchen there was food prepared, as well as knowing that any adult could correct his behavior with a sharp rap on the head, or worse-- and there was no need to report this to his mother. 

When he enrolled in school at 9 years of age, Marcus spoke English "small small." Instruction, and reading materials imported from the US, were in English. Aware of these obstacles, the Peace Corps teachers assigned to his school in Saclapea created learning aids to help with the difficult transition required when speaking one language while learning to read in another. They also recognized promise, and double promoted him twice, so that in short order he was sent away to the big town of Sanniquellie, where he lived with relatives. To pay school fees, he did household chores, such as carrying water and sweeping the yard, before his classes started in the morning. Again, he excelled, and at age 15, boarded a money bus for the long, dusty trip to the capital city of Monrovia. Staying with a family who had known his father, Marcus enrolled in afternoon classes at the Govt. Junior High, and, miraculously, met up with one "Mr Eric," an American consultant connected to the construction of the first hydroelectric plant supplying power to Monrovia. Why he hired a cheeky kid to read meters and report illegal connections for the Public Utilities Authority, is anyone's guess. Marcus was surely the only 16 year old driving all over town in a Volkswagon car with PUA emblazoned on the door! When the brand new William V.S. Tubman High School, built by USAID/San Francisco State, opened in 1968, Marcus enrolled in 10th grade. He was so proud to wear that maroon uniform. Peace Corps Volunteer teachers at Tubman soon organized an elite FastTrack class, in which he was included. With most of his courses taught by PCV's, it guaranteed a straight shot to graduation. Along the way he was elected Student Council President-- perhaps a foreshadowing  of things to come. 

Of the many amazing adventures Marcus Dahn had in his life, the one long sequence that began with his goal to go to college in the States, then finding his way to New York City, working for "under the table" wages for a year, then being awarded a soccer scholarship to Walsh (where's Canton, Ohio?), getting hired on at Republic Steel (swing shift, for the next 6+ years), transferring to University of Akron, marrying his "Peace Corps lady," becoming a father to their son, Michael, graduating from U of Akron (BS environmental geology), helping create UNiCCo, an organization to help Nimbaians abroad better focus on developing their county and country, writing a highly controversial letter to Senator Hubert Humphrey demanding to know why the US hadn't been addressing blatant corruption in Liberia, and being visited in Canton by two young Liberians wanting to organize PAL, a new political party to challenge William Tolbert and the authoritarian one party system under which Liberia had struggled for over 135 years, is among one of his more amazing runs.

Accepting Bacchus Matthews' and Wesley Johnson's challenge, Marcus joined PAL (People's Alliance of Liberia), becoming their first "Propaganda Minister," and set about writing, phoning, and traveling, to meet with and convince Liberians to engage in the new politics of Liberia. Bad news from Monrovia detailed a peaceful demonstration organized by PAL to protest the rising cost of rice--but, government forces opened fire and killed dozens, PAL organizers were rounded up, and a $5000 reward was posted for Marcus, dead or alive. Then, the worst. On April 12, 1980, a small group of Liberia military, led by Samuel Doe, carried out a deadly coup, killing President Tolbert and other high ranking officials, and took control of the government. Because he did not sanction a coup or the carnage that followed, Marcus initially ignored pleas from Liberia for educated people to return home. When he finally agreed to go back, he was swiftly appointed Deputy Director/ National Housing Authority and busied himself with the construction and management of a large, first ever affordable housing project. By the time his family relocated to Liberia, troubles were brewing between Doe, some in his military government, and those, especially the leaders of UPP (formerly PAL), who had expected the coup to be a path for democracy, not for Doe to become President. Marcus was forced to resign. Moving about freely became dangerous. Shortly after the birth of his daughter, Miaghen, a transfer to Lesotho was arranged for Karen, who was working for Peace Corps, and the family quickly and quietly left Liberia. 

In Lesotho, Marcus found meaningful work with USAID funded BANFES (Basic and Non-Formal Education Systems) and through a serendipitous meeting with visitors from Ohio University, Mary Anne Flournoy and Steve Howard, he decided he wanted to pursue graduate school at OU, applied, and was accepted into  International Studies. In the summer of 1988, Karen and the children went ahead to settle into life in Athens, while Marcus finished up with BANFES. His Pan Am flight in December included a 2 week stopover in Liberia--more than enough time, as it turned out,  to build a house for his mother. Hoping to get to Ohio more quickly, he decided to request continuing on "standby." Despite the Christmas rush, he boarded an earlier flight from Monrovia to London, and was on his way to JFK and Ohio a day ahead of schedule. The news about Pan Am,103, exploding over Lockerbie Scotland, was shocking in so many ways, but especially for Marcus, who had arrived safely in Athens by then, but whose original Pan Am ticket, Flight 103, December 21, 1988, was in his jacket pocket, unused. 

During his time at Ohio University, earning an MA in International Studies/Public Administration and a PhD in Higher Educational Leadership and Administration, Marcus never tired of studying. He actually loved taking exams (said he "really enjoyed" his dissertation defense), and was motivated by learning and discussing issues and theories, and models and solutions, especially if it had anything to do with Liberian or African politics. He never stopped working for a better Liberia.  Continuing to be a leader in UPP, (United People's Party, originally PAL) resulted in his spending endless hours on the phone, writing letters, traveling to meetings and demonstrations in Washington DC, and elsewhere, as he marched for a response by this country to a brutal Civil War in Liberia.

Marcus was thrilled to be hired as the first Director of Diversity  at South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD. He approached the job with zeal, speaking at inner city schools in Minneapolis and visiting SD Indian reservations, where he met with tribal leaders and students and learned that no one from SDSU had ever recruited there before. But, by the third year, it became clear that both financial and administrative support for diversifying the campus was waning (might he have been too successful?) Marcus felt it was a good time to return to Liberia. 

As a result of the Civil War​that cost 200,000 Liberian lives and, ultimately, ended the Doe era of corrupt mismanagement, an Interim Government had been installed by ECOWAS. Marcus was appointed Deputy Minister, Education, and among many pressing needs of a country where no schools had functioned in a decade, he proposed there be free elementary education for all children. A election was possible in the near future. He (and 25 others) decided to run for President of Liberia. His platform, called "The New Road," was carefully crafted, with input from OU faculty and School of Journalism students. He didn't win, but did very well. In the subsequent run off, Marcus put his efforts into consolidating several political parties and tirelessly campaigned for 6 weeks in his home county of Nimba, helping Ellen Johnson Sirleaf win the election by a 90% margin in Nimba County, to become the first woman President of an African country. He served in her Cabinet as Deputy in half a dozen Ministries, from Foreign Affairs to Telecommunications, that President Sirleaf felt required "housecleaning," and he traveled worldwide as a Liberian representative and negotiator to conferences, African roundtables, and more. When her first term was over, Marcus ran again, this time for Vice President, with an elder of their party as the standard bearer, but it was not to be. Ellen was reelected for a second term. During these latter years in Liberia, Marcus also taught Political Science at the University of Liberia, something he dearly loved doing.  

In recent years, failing health  brought Marcus back to Athens for extended periods of time, during which he was provided medical attention and cared for with constancy and compassion by his ex-wife, Karen. On December 3, 2021, with Ohio Health Hospice in attendance, he passed away at The Laurels of Athens, from  complications of Parkinson's, or quite likely, from a related neurological condition known as Lewy Body Disease. Last Rites were administered by Hospice Chaplain, James Blackwell.

Marcus leaves behind his children, three young grandsons, his ex-wife, and many extended family members in the U.S. and in Liberia, along with countless friends and colleagues who were touched by his dedication to the country of his birth and who appreciate his many sacrifices for Liberia.

The family welcomes you to attend a Memorial service for Marcus on Saturday, July 2, 2022, in Athens, Ohio, at 1:00pm, officiated by the Rev. Chad Huebner, at Christ Lutheran Church, 69 Mill Street, to be followed by a Celebration of Life gathering at ArtsWest, 132 W. State Street, from 3:00-9:00pm. 

In lieu of flowers, should you wish to make a donation in Marcus's name, please consider Friends of Liberia (https://fol.org) or Books for Africa (https://www.booksforafrica.org/). Arrangements are by Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home where you may send the family message of sympathy at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com.