Date of publication: Friday 1 August 2025
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Eulogy for Chidozie Gracious Jacob
by Chukwumaobi Uche Jacob (for the family)
We gather today to celebrate and honor the life of Chidozie Gracious Jacob, affectionately known as “Dozzy”, a man of many talents and unshakable resilience.
He was born on October 27, 1968, in Mba-Ozuitem, in the Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, in Nigeria. Dozzy was the cherished son of the late Margret Nnennaya Jacob Uche (née Chuku) and the late Jacob Onwuchekwa Uche. He was also preceded in death by his sister Grace, and his brothers, Onyedikagi and Okechukwu. Dozzy is survived by his brothers Mark and Chukwumaobi Uche Jacob, his sisters Vivian Ebere and Jennifer Nwakaego, and a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who loved him dearly. Dozzy was the pillar of his family. He spoke regularly with his mother and his siblings, planning on business endeavors they could initiate to support the family.
Dozzy was a proud Igbo man and he participated in any initiative supporting the betterment of his community. He was a member of the Ozuitem Community Association. He would regularly travel to the US to attend their meetings and events.
Dozzy was a devoted husband to Ngozi, and a proud and dedicated father to Kosi, Gloria, David, and Grace. More than anything else, he took the greatest pride in being a father. Despite working night shifts and the challenges of early life in Canada, he continued to be actively involved in his children’s care. He had big dreams for his children.
Dozzy’s journey took him far beyond his village of Ozuitem. He lived in Liberia, Senegal, St. Martin, and Curaçao, before finally settling in Ottawa in 2000. His life was a rich mosaic of cultures, experiences, and friendships.
Professionally, Dozzy was as versatile as he was passionate. He was the proud owner of Dozzy Unisex Hair Salon in Dakar, Senegal, and he managed a store in St Martin. In Canada, he worked with Compaq and Hewlett-Packard, before joining the public service, where he served with dedication at Public Safety Canada, Elections Canada, and finally, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
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He enjoyed working out at the gym or outdoors with friends. Dozzy was passionate about sports, especially soccer. He was a big fan of Manchester United. During one of his last trips, he even had the opportunity to visit the Man U’s stadium. Dozzy would organize his schedule and his TV setup, around any major soccer championships, boxing matches or wrestling events. He especially enjoyed watching WWE with his mother during her visit to Canada in 2003.
Dozzy was also a man of exceptional intellect and boundless curiosity. He was inquisitive, often tackling complex problems, and never stopping until a task was completed and met his high standards. He approached every challenge with enthusiasm and skill.
Among these, he renovated the family home, completing the basement, re-designing the kitchen, and living room. He enjoyed fixing mechanical issues on his cars, so much so that he would rent tools from the mechanic just to do the work himself. Dozzy was also a tech savant. He went from a guy who wasn’t able to open his first email, to the computer whiz he became after a short training. He would assemble computers to his liking and troubleshoot any issues that came up.
He also had a creative mind. Dozzy was a photographer, and many people in the room today have had the honour of posing for one of his pictures. He also enjoyed designing and sewing clothes. His hair cuts were a work of art — he never went to a barbershop, not for himself or and not for his son, David.
Dozzy had a deep love for music. He was a talented singer who sang with enthusiasm, at church, at home or just in his car. He would belt out even the most complicated melodies. Sometimes, his kids would get embarrassed when he loudly sang the worship songs at church, but that was Dozzy, unapologetically expressive. His musical taste was vast. He liked many genres including jazz, hip-hop, R&B, soul, country, pop, and worship. He danced like none on an Igbo beat.
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He was a bon vivant. He loved good food, good fufu and a good time with friends.
Dozzy made friends wherever he went—through church, school, work, soccer, and even his mechanic’s shop. Everyone in this room, may have met Dozzy in a different way but many of you probably have a story of how he made you laugh, helped you out, or simply brightened your day. Your presence here today is a testament to the community he was a part of.
Dozzy was a good mediator to help friends sort out issues. He had a special gift for connecting with people, including children and youth. A few people here may remember being counselled by him during their teenage storms.
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Moreover, Dozzy feared God and lived by the values of his Christian faith, which had been instilled in him by his family. He turned to his faith in challenging and joyful moments. People who knew him often recall the strength of his prayers and the warm, thoughtful blessings he would say before meals.
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Dozzy was a survivor. As a baby, he lived through the Biafran War, a conflict that left deep scars on his Igbo community. Later in life, he survived Hurricane Lenny in 1999, in the Caribbean, a testament to his strength and resilience.
Dozzy’s ambitions and dreams were halted almost 10 years ago, following a sudden cardiac arrest on July 13th, 2015. Though his path was altered, we believe his spirit endured, surrounded by the love and compassionate care of his family, friends, as well as the dedicated nurses, personal support workers, doctors, and staff at the Heart Institute and St-Vincent Hospital.
Dozzy’s life was a mosaic of resilience, creativity, and love. He taught us that no challenge is too big, no problem too hard, and no dream too far out of reach. He lived with purpose and loved deeply.
As we say goodbye to you today, let’s hold on to the light you brought into our lives and the lessons you shared. May your soul rest in perfect peace, and may we keep your memory alive by living with the same courage, curiosity, and kindness that you showed every day.
Though you are no longer with us, we take comfort in knowing that your soul is at peace, embraced by the God you trusted so deeply.
As we remember Dozzy, I’d like to close with a scripture that speaks to this moment:
- 2 Timothy 4:7-8
- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing
