PIERRE AKPO-SANI

ORWELL — Pierre Akpo-Sani was born in the village of Pira, in the country of The Republic of Benin previously Dahomey), in West Africa on May 1, 1946. He died after a short illness on May 17, 2025, surrounded by family at his home in Orwell, Vt. His parents were Moise Akpo-Sani and Agbale Batchodjouwon Tonnin.

Siblings are Lassissi Akpo-Sani of Pira, Benin; Madeleine Akpo-Sani (deceased), Magloire Akpo-Sani (Catherine) of Atlanta, Ga.; Marguerite Akpo-Sani of Cotonou, Benin; Paul Akpo-Sani (deceased); Claude Akpo-Sani of Cotonou, Benin; and Rufin Akpo-Sani (deceased).

Pierre is also predeceased by his parents.

Pierre also has many nieces, nephews, and cousins in Benin and the United States.

When Pierre was four years old he moved to Niamey, Niger, to live with his Aunt Jeanne Akpo-Sani to attend school. He developed three major loves — soccer, movies and music, which he enjoyed his entire life. He also joined the Boy Scouts and later had a position of leadership and mentored other boys in the Scouts in Niamey, Niger, and Pira, Benin.

After finishing his education Pierre remained living in Niger as an elementary school teacher.

Pierre met Ramona Goddard of Orwell, Vt., in Niamey, Niger, West Africa, where she was serving in the Peace Corps, from 1971-1973. Pierre moved to the U.S. in July of 1974, and he and Ramona were married in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on July 27, 1974. They made their home in the U.S. until the present. On Dec. 3, 1976, they had a son, Olatundji Akpo-Sani, who is currently living with his wife in Sydney, Australia.

Pierre was smart, outgoing, gregarious, and loved people, community, and his family. He made friends easily wherever he went and by the time of his death he was loved by people around the world.

Pierre attended SUNY Alfred and graduated in 1980 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He and Ramona visited his home in West Africa after the graduation. He then took a position with Xerox Corporation in Rochester, N.Y. At the age of 40 he furthered his love of exercise by training for and running four marathons. Even later in life he could be seen biking and walking for miles and miles along the roads and country lanes of Orwell and the surrounding areas.

Pierre always knew the value of education and strived to spread that throughout his family in Africa by assisting his brother, Magloire, in coming to the U.S. in 1980 so that he might attend college here, and supporting his nephew through his schooling in Benin. He also contributed to many other family members’ education in Africa.

Magloire chose to remain in the U.S. and became an American citizen. He and his family are currently living in Atlanta, Ga. He and Pierre were very close as brothers and Magloire came to Vermont to spend several weeks with Pierre before his death.

Pierre and Ramona lived in Rochester until June of 2008, when they moved to Orwell, Vt., to be close to Ramona’s family. His love of gardening came alive around their new home, where he planted large vegetable gardens, many varieties of fruit trees, and new flowers added to the yard every year, especially roses, Ramona’s favorite. On Sept. 11, 2009, Pierre became a U.S. Citizen at the State House in Montpelier, Vt. Among those who attended the ceremony were his wife and son, and a group of students from Orwell Village School whom he had been coaching in soccer, giving them the love of the game that he had.

In July of 2024 Pierre and Ramona celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

The funeral will be held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Orwell at noon, Saturday the 24th of May, followed by burial in Mountain View Cemetery in Orwell, and a reception at the Rectory by the Church. All are invited.

Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made, in his memory to; Addison County Home Health & Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753.

Arrangements by Miller & Ketcham of Brandon. ◊