Dr. Syed Islam, loving husband, father, son, brother and friend, passed away suddenly Dec. 13, 2020, due to natural causes.
Over the last few months, our family has been unable to fathom this sudden loss. In writing Syed’s obituary, we hope to share with you his wonderful life story on Father’s day weekend as a final tribute.
Syed was born Jan. 9, 1953, to his late mother, Amitya Khatoon, and his late father, Haroon Rashid, in a picturesque hamlet outside of what is today, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Syed spent his life in the pursuit of knowledge, education and travel of the world, and enjoyed these pursuits with his beloved family and friends.
Syed came from humble beginnings in a country that was still transitioning from the remnants of the British Empire. Syed honorably served his native country fighting for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, as part of the Freedom Fighter’s Movement. While serving his native country, Syed simultaneously pursued his undergraduate studies in pre-med.
In 1972, Syed enrolled in medical school at Dhaka Medical College. Syed’s medical education and profession would take him and his family around the world, before finally settling down in Morgantown.
In 1977, after graduating from medical school, Syed was stationed in Baghdad, Iraq, as a pediatric doctor. While in Iraq, Syed met the love of his life Khadija. Syed and Khadija fell in love and were married in Bombay, India, on Dec. 17, 1981. Syed and Khadija raised three children: their oldest son, Aras, their only daughter Farah and their youngest son, Ahmed.
Syed dedicated his life to being a loving husband and father. Syed was adventurous, playful and had a love for all things funny.
Syed was a constant source of laughter for his family, always ready to share his latest joke.
In 1980, Syed traveled to Sydney, Australia, to pursue his first master’s degree in public health.
After receiving his master’s degree in public health, Syed and Khadija returned to Dhaka, Bangladesh, where they welcomed the arrival of their oldest son, Aras.
In 1983, Syed, Khadija, and Aras moved to Birmingham, Ala., where Syed pursued and obtained his second master’s degree in public health.
In 1984, after Syed received his second master’s degree, the family returned to Dhaka, Bangladesh. While in Dhaka, Syed worked for the Helen Keller Foundation, researching issues affecting the visually impaired, and ICDDR, B, focusing his attention on diarrhea prevention medicine. During their time in Dhaka, Syed and Khadija welcomed their second child, and only daughter, Farah.
In 1985, Syed and his family relocated to Saudi Arabia for three years, where Syed worked as a pediatric physician for Riyadh Hospital, before he and his family officially immigrated to the United States of America, in 1988.
The family’s first stop in the United States was Ann Arbor, Mich. Syed enrolled in the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he received his PhD in epidemiology. In 1989, Syed and Khadija welcomed their youngest son, Ahmed.
After receiving his PhD in 1992, Syed began his academic career as a professor at the Medical College of Georgia, before accepting an offer with West Virginia University, in Morgantown. Syed went on to become a tenured professor of epidemiology at WVU.
Syed and his family remained in Morgantown for over a decade. During this time, Syed became actively involved with the Islamic Society of Morgantown, where Syed would practice his Islamic faith and forge lifelong friendships.
Syed devoted his free time to his family. Syed loved adventure and would often take his family on trips that spanned the globe, from Colorado to Dhaka, Bangladesh. When at home, Syed enjoyed taking his sons to their lacrosse, basketball and football games, as well as taking his daughter to her ballet recitals and reading her creative short stories.
In 2005, Syed decided to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Syed began working as the director of pharmacovigilance at Pfizer, in Collegeville, Pa., focusing on drug safety.
In 2010, Syed relocated to Lake Villa, Ill., to advance his pharmaceutical career at Abbvie, working as the senior director of pharmacovigilance. While in Lake Villa, Syed and Khadija obtained their dream home, overlooking a beautiful pond in their backyard. Over the course of the next decade, Syed and his family would spend countless hours barbecuing in the backyard, swimming in the pool, watching movies downstairs in the movie theater, playing pool, or ending a perfect day watching Mr. Bean and eating Syed’s choice of fruit as their nightly snack.
Syed loved to travel. Syed and his family traveled often, exploring numerous countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In 2013, Syed and his family traveled to Dhaka, Bangladesh, visiting Syed’s beloved mother, brothers Lulu and Pannu, and their families. This trip would be the last time Syed saw his mother. Syed is now reunited with his parents.
In 2016, Syed adopted a rescue dog, Cooper. Cooper is a loveable and animated Shih Tzu. Cooper was Syed’s loyal four-legged companion. Syed loved to take Cooper along on Saturday mornings to get the car washed. While Syed was at work, Cooper could often be found in the window, anxiously awaiting Syed’s return.
In 2019, Syed returned to Philadelphia, Pa., to work for Jazz Pharmaceutical as an epidemiology physician. Having reached the pinnacle of his career, Syed was looking forward to retirement in 2021, with plans to travel the world with his beloved wife, Khadija and their children.
Although Syed has passed on, we know that his journey does not end here.
Syed is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Khadija, their children, Aras (Lynn), Farah, Ahmed (Jessica), three brothers, Aminul, Shariful and Ashraf, as well as several cousins, nephews and nieces.
