Dr. Fidelis Obiora Eke, age 76, of Gold River, California passed away on December 9, 2020 following a courageous battle with cancer. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace.

Fidelis was born on May 7, 1944 in Oghe, Nigeria. He spent his early years in Northern Nigeria before moving to Lagos, Nigeria for elementary and high school. He attended St. Gregory’s College in Lagos. From a young age, Fidelis was a talented athlete. He excelled as a soccer goalie, pole vaulter, and black belt in Judo. Fidelis was also gifted academically. He received a scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering at Lovanium University in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After graduating, he worked briefly with Goodyear Tires in Kinshasa, before transferring back to Lovanium University to work as an Assistant Lecturer for a few years.

Fidelis moved to the United States in January 1975, where he completed a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Tuskegee University, Alabama and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, California. Upon graduation, he joined the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California where he met his wife and life partner Dr. Estelle Eke. He then went back to Tuskegee University as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering for a couple years. In the Fall of 1990, he joined the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California at Davis (UC Davis). He loved teaching and had a wonderful career at UC Davis. He retired from UC Davis on July 1, 2017 but continued at the university as Professor Emeritus. Fidelis was fluent in five languages -- English, French, Igbo, Lingala, and Yoruba.

Fidelis became a parishioner at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Rancho Cordova in 1992 and three of his daughters attended St. John Vianney (SJV) Elementary School. Fidelis was a deeply religious man who lived his faith every day. His love for God and others radiated outward in all his words and actions. He became a member of the Knights of Columbus Blessed Sacrament Council 5322 upon joining SJV Parish. Fidelis later went on to serve as Grand Knight of the Council and a District Deputy in the California State Council.

Fidelis is survived by his wife, Estelle Eke; brothers, Ben Eke, Lazurus Eke, Boniface Eke, Oliver Eke; sisters, Titi Ekwuazi, Victoria Eke, Ngozie Eke, Ifeyinwa Eke; daughters, Nicki Eke-Ekwuazi, Obiamaka Eke, Ugo Eke-Simmons, Chika Eke; grandson, Bernard Ekwuazi; and sons-in-law, Ejike Ekwuazi and Geoffrey Eke-Simmons; sisters-in-law, Christie Eke and Regina Eke; his treasured aunt, Veronica Nzekwe; several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and in-laws.
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Donation in Lieu of Flowers

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers for donations to be made in honor of Sir Knight Fidelis Eke, to Knights of Columbus Blessed Sacrament Council 5332 for their charity works.

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