Comments:
Tribute to my Mentor
I first met my Mentor and Teacher in Florence, Italy. I bumped into his Son on Orientation Day at my College, like myself they lived in Kuwait but he went to a different school, he introduced me to his Dad, a friendly Older Gentlemen, little did I know that it would be the start of a 30 year old friendship.
The same day we were taking the bus to the Piazza del Duomo and I heard the giggling of a group of girls and he was leaning at the back of the bus casually cracking jokes and making them laugh, he was Cool like that š.
We were walking in the Piazza and came across a very old store with a wooden door and window display, watches spread out on green felt, he spent the next 20 minutes explaining the history of the watches, the divers known as Sommozzatori in World War 2, how it was linked to the Egyptian Navy, and how much he loved the brand. I was hooked, I fell in love with Panerai that day and it started my long journey with watches.
He was a Scion of an Influential Turkish Egyptian family, his father was a member of King Farouk of Egypt's court. If anyone gets the chance to visit the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, you can see some of King Farouk's watches there. My Mentor attended the Victoria College in Alexandria.
After King Farouk was deposed in 1952 all his loyalists were either imprisoned or exiled. And as luck would have it both Father and Son would find refuge in Kuwait.
My Mentor was an Engineer by Profession and had a 55 year career, when I met him he was a Top Executive at a Fortune 500 Company and travelled constantly at one point. Everyone liked him, whether you were service staff or the Head of a Country, he treated everyone the same way, with respect, a kind laugh and a quick joke. He was always smiling, pleasant, even when he discussed difficult topics he always did it with an air of civility, balance and empathy. His office was more of a library/museum. He had one of the largest pen collections I've ever seen, numbering in the thousands, that at one point his wife had to threaten him so we would stop buying them š, some of us know how that is like.
He introduced me to Breitling, a brand he loved and was collecting since the 1960s, to Heuer, Rolex and of course Panerai. He once asked me if I could find a watch for him that he loved, as luck would have it I found him a special one.
He would share his collection of Vintage Panerai depth guages and compasses he bought since the 1970s before anyone knew what Panerai was from Antiques Dealers in Alexandria. He was obsessed with collecting World War 2 antiques, he had a beach home near El Alamein which was the famously the place where the Allied forces led by British General Montgomery defeated General Rommel in late 1942. He would explore the area and indeed did find many old War relics.
When our Purists friends visited Kuwait and Dubai he graciously hosted us for an afternoon lunch in Dubai, that was great memory. When I bought my Panerai 6152-1a he was the first person I rushed to show, as I knew he would appreciate it.
He was the Quintessential Mediterranean Gentleman with Omar Sharif style Good Looks, was a Good Father, a Great Friend. He Passed Away Today. I am devastated and in mourning, I feel I lost a Family Member. I Pray that God Forgives his Sins on Judgement Day and Grant's him entry to Heaven, Amen.
The same day we were taking the bus to the Piazza del Duomo and I heard the giggling of a group of girls and he was leaning at the back of the bus casually cracking jokes and making them laugh, he was Cool like that š.
We were walking in the Piazza and came across a very old store with a wooden door and window display, watches spread out on green felt, he spent the next 20 minutes explaining the history of the watches, the divers known as Sommozzatori in World War 2, how it was linked to the Egyptian Navy, and how much he loved the brand. I was hooked, I fell in love with Panerai that day and it started my long journey with watches.
He was a Scion of an Influential Turkish Egyptian family, his father was a member of King Farouk of Egypt's court. If anyone gets the chance to visit the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, you can see some of King Farouk's watches there. My Mentor attended the Victoria College in Alexandria.
After King Farouk was deposed in 1952 all his loyalists were either imprisoned or exiled. And as luck would have it both Father and Son would find refuge in Kuwait.
My Mentor was an Engineer by Profession and had a 55 year career, when I met him he was a Top Executive at a Fortune 500 Company and travelled constantly at one point. Everyone liked him, whether you were service staff or the Head of a Country, he treated everyone the same way, with respect, a kind laugh and a quick joke. He was always smiling, pleasant, even when he discussed difficult topics he always did it with an air of civility, balance and empathy. His office was more of a library/museum. He had one of the largest pen collections I've ever seen, numbering in the thousands, that at one point his wife had to threaten him so we would stop buying them š, some of us know how that is like.
He introduced me to Breitling, a brand he loved and was collecting since the 1960s, to Heuer, Rolex and of course Panerai. He once asked me if I could find a watch for him that he loved, as luck would have it I found him a special one.
He would share his collection of Vintage Panerai depth guages and compasses he bought since the 1970s before anyone knew what Panerai was from Antiques Dealers in Alexandria. He was obsessed with collecting World War 2 antiques, he had a beach home near El Alamein which was the famously the place where the Allied forces led by British General Montgomery defeated General Rommel in late 1942. He would explore the area and indeed did find many old War relics.
When our Purists friends visited Kuwait and Dubai he graciously hosted us for an afternoon lunch in Dubai, that was great memory. When I bought my Panerai 6152-1a he was the first person I rushed to show, as I knew he would appreciate it.
He was the Quintessential Mediterranean Gentleman with Omar Sharif style Good Looks, was a Good Father, a Great Friend. He Passed Away Today. I am devastated and in mourning, I feel I lost a Family Member. I Pray that God Forgives his Sins on Judgement Day and Grant's him entry to Heaven, Amen.
Dear Salman,
I am so sorry for your loss!
You wrote a wonderful tribute to your Mentor and Teacher, a tribute that makes us regret never having met this āQuintessential Mediterranean Gentlemanā.
Please, accept my warmest and most fraternal thoughts.
Best regards,
Emmanuel
It sounds to me
like he lived a great life and his eternity will be the influence he had on others and the genes he passed on thru his children. Iām not a particularly religious man but I strongly believe those two things no matter your faith.
Great story! Thank you for sharing!
Wishing you the best during these difficult times.
I feel for you, mon ami. I know how one can feel when he looses his mentor, it is a terrible void. Stay strong, think of the good and great moments, he will always be alive in your heart.
My heart goes out to you and his family, dear Salmanā¦
Such a positive influence in your life will be sorely missed, for sure.
Praying for you to find solace in the fact that he lived fully and touched the lives of many people around him, making the world a better place.
Sending you a strong embrace,
Alex
So sorry for your loss my friend.
He must have been a bright, smart, great man indeed.
I really feel sad because we need more people like him, not only for the good of mankind but also for his family and friends.
Filip
I really feel sad because we need more people like him, not only for the good of mankind but also for his family and friends.
Filip
May his memory always be a blessing to you and his family
May God have mercy on his soul.
I'll pray for the repose of his soul and that his positive memories remain bright influences in your life.
God Bless you and all his family and friends in this time.
I'm sorry for your loss
He sounds like a true gentleman, one many of us do (and more of us should) aspire to be like.
Sal, I am so sorry for your loss! Your description of his character and influence on is very moving and poignant, itās important that you share his loss, as itās a healthy part of the grieving process.
I have shared the link of this Thread with his Son, I am sure he will appreciate your kind words about his Dad, it's been a day of mixed Emotions, I want to Thank You All and Love All of You ā¤ļø
I know how you feel, Salman. There's a friend and mentor of mine . . .
. . . who's going thru difficult times presently. Not immediately life-threatening, but the quality of his life may never be the same.
He's constantly on my mind.
šØš¼āš¾
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit
Psalm 34:18
God is close to you, Sal. I will pray for your comfort.
And for the soul of your dear Friend. He sounds like a wonderful man, a wonderful human. Blessed are you to have known him, and shared aspects of life on Earth together. So long as he ascended, I am certain you will see him again!
What a heartwarming tribute,
thank you, Salman. Obviously you have been blessed with a wonderful relationship and Iām sure everyone reading this here wouldāve loved to have a mentor and friend just like, or even a little like, yours.
Cheers
Marc
Cheers
Marc
Sorry to hear this. Thoughts are with you, and your mentorās family and friends.
Sounds like a fantastic man, that had seen the world and hopefully with that lived a good life.