Ismail Mami

Ismail Mami Ismail Mami, 65, died on October 4, 2008 at Big Bend Hospice House in Tallahassee of Corticobasal degeneration, a rare brain disease that he battled since 1999. He was born in Zawia, Libya on November 1, 1942. He came to this country in 1968 and proudly became an American citizen in 1979. While attending FSU, he earned an associate degree in criminology and his PhD in organic chemistry. Ismail taught chemistry at TCC for 16 years and worked in the FDLE crime lab, retiring from his position as supervisor of the chemistry and toxicology sections after 29 years. Ismail was a member of Gulf Winds Track Club and competed in the Ultradistance classic as well as multiple marathons, including the Boston Marathon. His favorite running event was the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run when in 1990 he carried the Olympic torch on its final leg to the Old Capitol to open the games. He was a "swim dad" and stroke and turn judge while his daughter, Suaad, competed with the Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club and Rickards High School. Loving husband and father, Ismail will always be remembered for his love of family, loyalty to friends, dedication to work, amazing sense of humor, and tendency to be the first to laugh at his own jokes. His legacy is carried on in the coworkers and students he inspired and the people he uplifted with his generous and benevolent spirit. Because of the rarity of his disease and for furtherance of research, Ismail's brain was donated to the Northwestern University Alzheimer's Disease Center by his request. He was laid to rest at Memory Gardens next to his beloved daughter, Aziza, who predeceased him in 2001. He is survived by his wife, Lesta Mami of 36 years; daughter, Suaad "Suzy" Marvin and son-in-law Peter Marvin of Tallahassee; four sisters; one brother; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Libya. He was honored in Islamic tradition at the mosque located on Old Bainbridge Road on Monday October 6, 2008 at 2 p.m. Donations to Big Bend Hospice or Northwestern University Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago, Illinois are appreciated.