Title
To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of Yusuf H. Abucar and to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends on the occasion of his passing, Tuesday, September 28, 2010.
Body
WHEREAS, Yusuf H. Abucar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia and received a full scholarship to study Architecture at the University of Florence in Italy, where he met Joan Matyskella, a native of Columbus, who he eventually married and resided with in Clintonville; and
WHEREAS, Abucar was passionate about his homeland, his culture and became a leader in the growing Somali community in Columbus. When the civil war began in Somali, he created the "Somali Relief Organization of Ohio which later evolved into the Somali Community Association of Ohio, an organization that provides assistance to refugees and new immigrants in Columbus, Ohio who face many challenges relative to housing, employment, education and healthcare.; and
WHEREAS, Abucar loved Somali music and flew both the Somali and the American flag on his house, his car and wore them on his lapel; and
WHEREAS, Abucar embraced new technology and was one of the early users of AutoCAD for architectural design and eventually started his own company designing many churches and commercial buildings in Columbus as well as his current project the Abubakar Assidiq Islamic Center on the city's west side; and
WHEREAS, Abucar will be remembered for his dedication and commitment to his homeland, his culture and his leadership to the Columbus Somali community. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby honor, recognize and celebrate the life of Yusuf H. Abucar and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends on the occasion of his passing.