Sheik Mohamed Osman Haniff

Shiek Mohamed Osman Haniff, age 70, passed away on September 2, 2023, at Advent Health Orlando with his family and friends by his side. Osman Haniff was born January 5, 1953, in Georgetown, Guyana to Bhagwantie and Mohamed Haniff. Four sisters and one brother survive him. He was a beloved father, husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. His deceased son Zachary was the love of his life and meant the universe to him.
He was extremely passionate about playing tennis. From nine years old, he practiced diligently, and his talent led him to win the Junior and Senior National Championship at the same time and then the Doubles Championship in Guyana before the age of 18. His tennis career continued as he extensively toured the tennis circuit in the Caribbean. He played in the Davis Cup representing Guyana. He even played tennis with the famous actor, Sidney Poitier in the Bahamas.
When he made his way to the United States, he attended Northeast Missouri University where he earned a tennis scholarship, became the captain of the tennis team and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Business of Agriculture.
Throughout his life, he volunteered in youth programs to teach underprivileged kids how to play tennis. In Minneapolis and wherever he lived, he was a tennis instructor for tennis camps, high school teams, individual lessons and of course, gave free lessons to his family and friends. He was also a member of United States Tennis Association (USTA).
While he continued to play tennis and entered many tournaments, he attended Barry University in Miami where he earned his Master of Science in Computer Science. At the same time, he worked at Jackson Memorial Hospital for 29 years. Osman's professional life exhibited integrity, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. He always supported his colleagues in their professional growth and development.
After he retired, he moved to Arcadia, Florida, where he was extremely proud to have built a home and started a farm with cows, goats, ducks, chickens, and a pond filled with fishes. All the while, he educated himself in trading stocks which he dabbled in along the way. This became his second fulltime career when he decided to reside in Orlando until his passing.
Osman's greatest legacy is his genuine love for his family and friends. They were most important to him. He would attend every family event and he made everyone feel important. He touched many hearts with his kindness, compassion, and charisma. His family was the center of his life! He would always make everyone feel welcome and if someone was alone, he would say, "Come join us." He was always happy and positive no matter what. His famous motto was "Life is Good." He was always the life of every party, and he had a beautiful infectious smile that would light up the room. He was full of character and extremely unique.
He never judged anyone, and he forgave people easily.
He lived his life to the fullest: enjoying every celebration; camping; fishing; hanging at the beach; traveling the world; playing tennis; doing his stocks; and eating every kind of food, but curry and rice was his favorite. And most of all, spending time with his son Zachary was the most fulfilling.
Osman's passing leaves an enormous void in our lives, but his spirit and our memories will live on in our hearts forever.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 15, at 1 p.m. at Boyd Panciera Funeral Home, 1600 N. University Dr., Pembroke Pines, Fl. 33024. Following the reception will be held at Tropics Restaurant and Lounge, 7100 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, Fl. 33024.
For those unable to attend the service, the family is offering LIVE streaming of the Service on Friday, September 15th beginning at 2:30 PM. The link to attend the LIVE SERVICE is on the Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care Facebook page at: Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care
In lieu of flowers, family and friends may donate to: Habitat for Humanity, 505 W. Broward Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. 33112 or online at habitat.org.
When making your memorial donation, kindly ensure that Osman's name is included. Additionally, please provide the following details for notifying Khamie of the memorial donation: Khamie Wingard, 16504 Diamond Head Drive, Weston, FL 33331.