In memorial of Omar Mohamed Bakir
OMAR
Is from Arabic and Hebrew origins, the meaning of Omar is "speaker; flourishing, long-lived and the ultimate devotee". Biblical: a sheik of Edom and son of Esau. Omar Khayyam (12th century) was a Persian poet, astronomer, and mathematician. Caliph Omar II made Islam an imperial power.
As his name “OMAR” claimed, he was a speaker and leader amongst men, flourishing in knowledge and long-lived. He was devoted to giving his family all the things that he did not have growing up. Omar Bakir was all of these things and so much more.
Twenty-four years ago we first met while he was in a state of semi, self-imposed exile in Dubai from his adopted home of Kuwait; Kuwait a place that allowed him to flourish in success, fame and wealth far beyond his dreams as a young boy in Palestine.
He was at the epicenter of the new modernization of Kuwait both in its physical development and in the emancipation of its social fabric. He was known far and wide for his ability in business and to organize parties and gatherings that left nothing to chance. His guests were always treated to the very best. His wife was a glamorous and beautiful woman that could turn every head in a room; they were a couple that had it all.
Omar was never comfortable following a trend or any person for that matter. He was polite and intelligent and was always, without exception, the smartest person in any room. Magnanimous, noble, benevolent like the finest gentlemen of his day, he was all of these things and did it in four languages, three of them completely self-taught. Where does a man like this come from, I would ask myself? Slight in stature but intimidating in his presence, he was always noticed and respected just by the way he carried himself.
He took the nonsense out of business and could negotiate the most unbelievable deals when challenged. His breath of knowledge and business acumen was unrivaled for most of his career. He created the term “Master Agent” taking swathes of territories and convincing fortune 500 companies that they were lucky to have him represent their brands. He grew one brand at a time, one deal at a time and had the capacity to unite the most unlikely of partners and to have them all seated beside him stripping them of their ill conceived prejudgments that would normally keep them apart.
He taught me the “Art of the Deal” long before Trump had any idea what that term meant. He was patient and giving of his time to me and never showed disappointment in me even when I disappointed myself in a task or duty for him. He stood by me quietly and without judgment as he was delivered to my life at the exact instant that I lost my own father.
His influences on me would resonate for many years beyond his physical connection to me in business. I held him in the highest esteem and instilled that level of respect for him onto his grandchildren every chance I had.
I spent time with him, never enough…he held high court at the Bakir homes no matter where that may have been, Kuwait, Dubai, the States everyday…. With a sip of the finest scotch in a crystal glass, a fresh cut apple and some roasted peanuts, he unwound from a day and talked to me in a never tiring role as my mentor and a friend. He was not of this world, I would think to myself. He hardly ever exposed himself to the mentioning ill of people, it was not his style.
I will miss you OB and think of you all the days of my life…I have one wish and that is that as you all, the five of you mourn his passing, that you act in the style that he so passionately formed you in and treat each other with the respect and love that he would come to expect…I know you will.
God speed to you my dear friend and “May Allah have mercy on your benevolent soul”
Stephen
Picture above is Omar and daughter Diana...
