Dear Vicki, Jimmy, Basil, Anisa and family,
My heart goes out to you all. I am deeply saddened for your loss and our loss. But knowing Thamir, I would guess that he would love for all of us to continue to live our lives to the fullest.
Thamir was my dad’s best friend. They went to school together at the police college in the late fifties. Thamir used to tell me stories about the good old days with my dad. Sometimes more than once, but I enjoyed it every time. He used to tell me that my dad used his leverage as his best friend to secure Thamir sister’s heart and marry her. When I came to the United States in 1996, Thamir gave me the first advice; Work hard, be honest and this country will reward you. I stuck with it. Two years later, I got promoted to a sales position in my company. I visited Thamir and Vicky that year. Thamir took me to Dillard’s and bought me a $350 suit (before tax). I was shocked. He said you will need to be sharp when visiting customers. That was my lucky suit. My colleagues in Floyds Knobs, IN called it the Wall Street suit.
Thamir represented the American dream to me, someone to aspire towards. Thank you Thamir for all your guidance, mentoring and laughter for the past 20 years. I will continue to live my life to the fullest as you did.
Mohammed Alobaidi