Obituary: Dr. Nadia H. Comvalius, 96, Of Brookfield

Information Courtesy Cornell Memorial Home

BROOKFIELD, CT — Dr. Nadia H. Comvalius, 96, of Brookfield, formerly of Eagar, AZ and New Rochelle, NY, died on July 16, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was born January 21, 1926, in Paramaribo, Suriname, the daughter of the late Rudolph and Martha (James) Comvalius. Nadia was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brookfield.

In November 1948, at the age of 22, Nadia went to medical school in the Netherlands and graduated in 1951 as the first Creole woman to earn a medical degree in the Netherlands. Her specialty was obstetrics and gynecology. In April 1955, Nadia moved to the United States to pursue further medical training in Puerto Rico. She then moved to Pennsylvania to conduct cancer research. In March 1963, Dr. Comvalius published a paper titled, “Transplantation of Homologous and Heterologous Tumors” about her research. Nadia ultimately settled in New Rochelle, NY, where she helped to desegregate New Rochelle Hospital. She had a successful practice on Park Avenue in New York City.

Nadia was an advocate for women’s rights and was recognized for her participation in important women’s health workshops. In 1987, Nadia decided to move to Saudi Arabia to work as a doctor for an oil company. After her time in Saudi Arabia, Nadia returned to practicing in New York. When it came time to “retire” Nadia moved to Eagar, AZ, where she worked for many years at the local hospital and served on the hospital’s Board of Directors. In 2016, Nadia moved back East with her sister Claudine to reside near her loving God daughters and nieces, Pearl and Salihah, and great-nephew Osei.

Nadia was recently honored at the International Woman’s Day in Utrecht, Netherlands and recognized as the first black woman to graduate medical school in the Netherlands. Nadia served as the foundation of the family for many years by sponsoring her siblings to come to the United States with their families and serving as a role model and champion for her family and patients; she was an inspiration to all who met her and loved by all who knew her.

She is survived by her loving nieces, Pearl Pengel, Ernestine Nahumury (and her husband, Hanoch Nahumury) and Tosca Comvalius; great nephew Osei Essed and his wife, Rachel and their children, Sparrow and Burnham; great niece Salihah Denman and her husband, Michael and their children, Kaila and Isabella; great niece Jamilah Wijnstra and her husband Ferre, and their children Indira and Ingmar; great niece Surya Nahumury and her partner Ismael Kartodimedjo and their daughter Noemi; her loving nieces, Diana Comvalius and her children Sherida, LeRon and Donny; Millie Luydjens and her son Mutume; Monique Alberts and her husband Arjen and their children Hazel and Elvin; nephew, Boni Caldeira, his wife Kim and their children Tyler and Grace; niece Ebun Caldeira and her children, Zoey and Giselle; Dr. Comvalius also leaves behind six siblings: Claudine Comvalius, Rudi Comvalius and his children Sharon, Marc, Rudolph and Stefan; Yvonne Comvalius, Lawrence Comvalius and his children, Susan, Kenneth and Lawrence, Jr.; Bernard Comvalius and his children Diana, Imro, Rudy, Marlon, Sherida and Sherryl, and Ellen Comvalius.

She has been reunited in heaven with her parents and her siblings Ine Comvalius, Theodore Comvalius and Joyce Brielle-Comvalius.

Friends may call at Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804 on Monday, Aug. 1, from 5-7 p.m. Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, 135 Remington Pl., New Rochelle, NY 10801. Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, 540 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., 10591.