Well, found the culprit. Believe it or not...a single fungus gnat larvae.
When the wound from the fallen leaf didnt dry up and heal, i knew something was up, so I unpotted it. I peeled away the dead petioles of the two recent leaves that had dropped, and found the problem. Physical damage to the collar. I have seen that type of damage before, with an african violet...but i frowned and didnt believe it until i found the culprit. I was so mad I picked up the little maggot and fed it to my fish. So it was hiding in the leaf petioles munching on my poor plant
I cannot believe this is the SECOND TIME an entire plant has been undone by one/two tiny insects. And fungus gnats, of all things.