Lawrence Ayuk Iyok, 62, (affectionately called Uncle Larry or Big Ayuk), passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on May 29, 2019. A few months before his death he had this to say:
“When it (the illness) just came about I was a little apprehensive, but as time progressed I have reconciled myself to any eventuality. Every one of us must die someday…so I have told Prudence and others I would not die one day earlier or later than what God has set aside for me, so because of that I don’t fear anything. If it comes tomorrow fine, if it comes in two weeks, fine, or if it comes in three years, fine. I have made my peace with that so I am happy where I am today…and I hope that when that day comes, you guys don’t cry too much because I have made my peace…”
And so, in spite of his terminal illness, Uncle Larry carried on living with grace and fortitude until the end, knowing that from the day he was born his days had been divinely numbered.
Big Ayuk was born on 21 December 1956 in Mamfe, Manyu division to Pa Lawrence Ayukmongang Iyok and Ma Joana Ofundem Iyok. He made his way into the world only six short weeks after the death of his father. Consequently, he was received with a lot of love and affection. He was named after his father, in keeping with a culture that saw him as a reincarnation of his Dad.
At the age of four, his loving big sister Mami Pikin, Martha Abunaw née Iyok took him into her household. He was more like a son to her than a younger brother. He fitted in snuggly between her two older kids, John and Gilbert Abunaw. He lived with Mami Pikin until he reached class 6 in primary school when he moved to Bamenda to stay with his newly married older brother Mr. Daniel Iyok and his wife. Mr. Iyok was then working with Barclays bank in Bamenda. It was a brief stop as Big Ayuk returned to Limbe for secondary school and resumed living with his older brother Mr. Daniel Iyok and family who had also relocated to Limbe. Later, Big Ayuk returned to the North West to pursue High School education. Many stories abound of these youthful years that bring laughter to those who remember. His friends remember him at this time as a very handsome, neat, and confident young man. Although he was on the quiet side, he loved a good time and frequently patronized the popular nightclub, Bay Saloon.
In January 1979, Uncle Larry moved to the United States and resided in the Capital District of New York where he had relatives. He continued his university education at Albany Business College and then transferred to Siena College in Loudonville, NY. In 1983, he graduated with a Bachelors’ degree in Business Administration (BAA) with emphasis in business accounting.
He started his professional career as an independent Business Consultant, providing financial and tax advice to his clients. In July 1990, he joined the New York Department of Social Services. With the restructuring of the Department, he was transferred to the Office of the Inspector General where he worked as an Associate Auditor.
Big Ayuk was an exquisite dresser with a preference for light colors. In his prime, he was athletic and enjoyed running and playing tennis. He also enjoyed going to clubs and socializing with family and friends. Later he bought a house in Latham and began to raise a family. In his spare time, Lawrence became an amateur carpenter and built a variety of furniture pieces for his home. He loved interior design and subscribed to interior magazines, which he read. He utilized the knowledge he acquired to assist others in the decoration of their homes. He was a founding member of the Cameroonian Association of the Greater Capital District, Inc. (Camerlook) and provided his expertise in taxation to assist the Association in obtaining its’ tax-exempt status.
In April 2018, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Despite the devastating nature of the disease, he showed a resilience that endeared him to his care team. However, some family members were not surprised because in the distant past he had shown the same resilience when his vision got limited to one eye. In fact, he sailed through that handicap flawlessly going to school and achieving everything else in life as if nothing was amiss. This time around, his illness brought him deep spiritual insights as he accepted his mortality without any bitterness.
Even though he asked family and friends not to cry too much when he died, the tears continue to flow because Big Ayuk left a legacy of reassuring smiles, generosity and a strong commitment to friendship and family. Simply put, his birth enriched our earth and, all who encountered him during his earthly journey would miss him terribly!
He is survived by his wife of eighteen years, Prudence Ngone Iyok.
In addition to his wife, his children, Nadine, Malaika, Arthur and Daniel, survive him. Two older brothers and four older sisters who live in Cameroon also survive him. He equally leaves behind a host of nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces, cousins, other family members and friends in both Cameroon and the United States to cherish his memory.