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In 1997, Dr. Kpormakpor was incarcerated by the former president Charles Taylor for two months, and having spent few months living on
military base, guarded by African peace keepers, Dr. Kpormakpor lost his home to looters. Impoverished and failing in health, he returned to
the U.S. after his release later that year.
In 2005, former president Dr. Kpormakpor met NYU graduate student Jason Price and this union sparked the creation of a short documentary,
“The Professor”, which was screened in the summer of 2007 at the Staten Island Film Festival. Mr. Price noted that when he began filming, his
primary concern was how a former president “could come to live alone, on welfare, in a Staten Island housing project.” With the passage of
time, however, Dr. Kpormakpor’s personality became the central focus of the project.
“What wore off completely was the novelty that he was the president of Liberia; what was left was his character,” Price said. “He’s just an
incredibly decent person.”
Living alone on welfare and in family obscurity, Dr. Kpormakpor struggled against plans by the U.S. government to end temporary protection
status for himself and thousands of his countrymen who were about to face deportation. However, the protection status was later extended by
the U.S. government.
Friends and associates of the former president were saddened at the news of his death.
military base, guarded by African peace keepers, Dr. Kpormakpor lost his home to looters. Impoverished and failing in health, he returned to
the U.S. after his release later that year.
In 2005, former president Dr. Kpormakpor met NYU graduate student Jason Price and this union sparked the creation of a short documentary,
“The Professor”, which was screened in the summer of 2007 at the Staten Island Film Festival. Mr. Price noted that when he began filming, his
primary concern was how a former president “could come to live alone, on welfare, in a Staten Island housing project.” With the passage of
time, however, Dr. Kpormakpor’s personality became the central focus of the project.
“What wore off completely was the novelty that he was the president of Liberia; what was left was his character,” Price said. “He’s just an
incredibly decent person.”
Living alone on welfare and in family obscurity, Dr. Kpormakpor struggled against plans by the U.S. government to end temporary protection
status for himself and thousands of his countrymen who were about to face deportation. However, the protection status was later extended by
the U.S. government.
Friends and associates of the former president were saddened at the news of his death.
The Liberian community on Staten Island, borough of
New York, was awakened on Thursday by the death of
former interim president of Liberia, Dr. David
Kpormakpor. This sad event took place at the Staten
Island university hospital, after battling a brain tumor for
many years. He died at age 74 and left behind three
sons, one daughter and four grandchildren.
Dr. David Kpormakpor, affectionately known as the
“Professor” because of his great store of knowledge and
wisdom, was appointed associate justice of the supreme
court of Liberia by the then-president Samuel karyon
Doe, following his return from the United States with a
law degree from UCLA’s school of law in Los Angeles.
As a professor of law, Dr. Kpormakpor taught at the
University of Liberia where he shared his valuable
knowledge with many Liberian students.
After the demise of former president Doe’s regime in
1990 which marked the beginning of the country’s brutal
civil war, an acting government backup by the U.S and
the Ecowas Nations was set up. Dr. Kpormakpor was
appointed interim president of Liberia and served from
March 1994 to September 1995. As a statesman, he
earned a reputation as the only honest politician in the
country, and unlike others, he refused to take money or
brides. While his presidential powers were slender, he
had access to millions in government funds.
New York, was awakened on Thursday by the death of
former interim president of Liberia, Dr. David
Kpormakpor. This sad event took place at the Staten
Island university hospital, after battling a brain tumor for
many years. He died at age 74 and left behind three
sons, one daughter and four grandchildren.
Dr. David Kpormakpor, affectionately known as the
“Professor” because of his great store of knowledge and
wisdom, was appointed associate justice of the supreme
court of Liberia by the then-president Samuel karyon
Doe, following his return from the United States with a
law degree from UCLA’s school of law in Los Angeles.
As a professor of law, Dr. Kpormakpor taught at the
University of Liberia where he shared his valuable
knowledge with many Liberian students.
After the demise of former president Doe’s regime in
1990 which marked the beginning of the country’s brutal
civil war, an acting government backup by the U.S and
the Ecowas Nations was set up. Dr. Kpormakpor was
appointed interim president of Liberia and served from
March 1994 to September 1995. As a statesman, he
earned a reputation as the only honest politician in the
country, and unlike others, he refused to take money or
brides. While his presidential powers were slender, he
had access to millions in government funds.
Liberians mourn the passing of former interim president Dr. David Kpormakpor
By: Varlee A. Kamara (Staten Island, NY)
August 21, 2010
By: Varlee A. Kamara (Staten Island, NY)
August 21, 2010
The Late Dr. David Kpormakpor