Christian Ntaganira

The Radiant Calm

Christian Ntaganira was a man of quiet depth, calm strength, and luminous kindness. His passing on January 11, 2026 leaves all who knew him with a profound sense of loss, yet holding tightly to the grace and gentleness he carried into every space he touched.

A Life of Global Connection

Born in Bujumbura, Burundi, to Edouard Ntaganira and Eugénie Mutamu, Christian spent his childhood in Ngagara, surrounded by community, shared hopes, and the dream of a family return to Rwanda. That long-awaited homecoming shaped his sense of purpose and rooted the next chapters of his life. He completed his secondary studies at Ecole St Bernadette in Save before attending the School of Finance and Banking in Kigali.

Gifted academically and deeply determined, Christian earned a Presidential Scholarship to study in the United States. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting at La Roche College in Pittsburgh in 2004 and later earned a Master of Science in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Maryland in 2015.

Professional Integrity and Mentorship

Christian built a meaningful professional life at Pepco and later at Washington Gas. He was respected not only for his expertise but for the warmth and humility he led with. Colleagues remember him as a quiet advocate, someone who opened doors, offered guidance, and uplifted others with generosity rather than fanfare.

A Match Rooted in History

Christian and Michelle's paths threaded together long before they officially met, through shared years at SFB, overlapping time at La Roche, and families connected across generations. When they finally found each other, their bond felt inevitable. They were married on December 22, 2022, and joyfully welcomed their son, Sacha Sheja Ntaganira, on September 23, 2023, a double blessing falling on Michelle's own birthday. Although their time together was short, it was full of joy and shared meaning.

The Heart of the Home

A devoted son, husband, and father, Christian shared a deep and cherished friendship with his mother, Eugénie, and found pure delight in the early years of parenting, most recently on a summer trip to Niagara Falls with Michelle and Sacha.

A Legacy of Humility

Those who knew Christian describe a man whose heart moved ahead of him, steady, compassionate, and ever ready to serve. He is survived by his beloved wife, Michelle, and their son, Sacha Sheja; by his mother, Eugénie Mutamu; by his siblings, M. Josée, Jean Marie, François, Rosette, Benjamin, Charlotte, Anita, and Francine; and by his parents-in-law, Alphonse Byusa and Kathy Kantengwa, along with his nieces, nephews, and the extended community he held close. He is preceded in death by his father, Edouard, and his eldest sister, Antoinette.

The Journey Home

In the final chapter of his earthly story, Christian will return to Rwanda, the homeland whose call shaped his life, and whose soil will now gently hold him at rest.