- Date Of Birth: August 1, 1974
- Date Of Death: August 19, 2018
- State: Michigan
Richard Lee Curtis II, “Ngadesa Tchokmon,” age 44 of Hazel Crest, Illinois, formerly of Austin, Texas, died peacefully Sunday evening, August 19, 2018 in Metro South Hospital in Blue Island, Illinois. He was born August 1, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois, the older of two children born to Richard and Janice Curtis.
At the age of 19, Richard achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and received an acknowledgement from President Clinton. He became a devoted early childhood teacher, working with pre-school and kindergarten students. Richard was passionate about his African ancestry, creating artworks in various media and made a pilgrimage to Guinea Bissau.
He was proficient at playing African music on several African instruments performing with and/or for many well-known people, including Tracy Lamar, Jr., Louis Farrakhan, Sr., Ursula Rucker, the NASA Space Center President in Houston, Texas, and the Houston International Festival in Herman Park. Richard will be greatly missed by family and friends. He is survived by his parents, Richard and Janice Curtis of Chicago, Illinois; one sister, Christy Curtis of Hazel Crest, Illinois and his chosen sister, Tracy Nolan Brown of Hazel Crest, Illinois.
