Dear Excel Family, 

As many of you may know, Sammy and Zaki’s father, Tamer, passed away from gastroesophageal cancer on May 6th. He had been struggling with cancer treatments and associated complications for a while and is no longer suffering. 

Though he was not a regular at the pool or involved in the activities directly, he was a huge supporter of the boys. He was a world-class swimmer throughout his life with records set in the All-African Games and in several marathon swimming competitions. In his high school and college years he represented Egypt on their National Team swimming primarily the 400 IM, 200 Fly, and 400 Free.  After college he competed in marathon distance competitions in Argentina, Brazil, and Geneva, setting records in Argentina and Brazil that were only just broken a few years ago. Almost immediately after his passing, the Egyptian Federation (Egyptian version of USA Swimming) posted a remembrance post on their Facebook page. According to his sisters, the translation is not accurate (“diversity and freedom races” were 400 Individual Medley and 400 Free races), but you can get the main idea. He was well-respected in the Egyptian swim world.

Having said that, he was not as well-known around here because he chose to let the boys have their own swim experiences, and it was too hard for him not to interfere. Also, they did not really take his advice or experiences seriously because to them he was just “Dad”. I’m sure many of you can relate. 

Despite Tamer not being a regular face at the pool, and not being active in local activities, the entire Excel family has surrounded our family in support since his diagnosis last year. This – THIS is what has been so amazing about our team. Our family is spread throughout different states, but our Excel family has been here and supported us in immeasurable ways, and there are not enough words or thank you cards to express how much your support, food, hugs, prayers, laughter, carpools, advice, and reality checks have meant to us. 

While Tamer was in hospice his last week, there were families who went to visit him even though they had only met once. There were some who, with only a three-hour notice, came to the funeral the day he passed! I told one person about the funeral time, and several families arrived to attend a funeral on the other side of Nashville! We could not believe it as they all started arriving one after the other!

To the core ladies (you know who you are), thank you for coordinating, managing, communicating, laughing, crying, praying, giving me reality checks when needed, transporting, accompanying, and just making sure my world did not fall apart. I always thought I could handle things by myself, and you forced me to learn to accept help from others – even if it meant a little breaking & entering and holding me hostage to help in my home. It was not easy, (still not easy, if I’m honest), but you gave the tough love that was needed.

To the rest of the Excel family, many of whom I barely knew, knew in passing from meets, or just “knew of” – I cannot thank you enough. You gave time, prayers, food, and comfort without hesitation! I have since gotten to know most of you over the last year, but the way that everyone came together was probably one of the most unbelievable things I have ever witnessed or experienced in my life! Every team says that they are a family, but this team has shown that mean it – from the coaches, to the administrators, to the parents, and the swimmers – this means more and shows more character than championships, top scores, and rankings. This family has been extraordinarily and overwhelmingly compassionate and supportive.

We are still going through some changes as we get adjusted to our “new normal”, whatever that becomes, but I did not want to let too much time pass before I share this humble and heartfelt thank you.