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WBC: 7 Years Without Don Jose

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WBC: 7 Years Without Don Jose | Boxen247.com

By Mauricio Sulaimán – Son of José Sulaimán – President of the WBC

Today’s column will be dedicated exclusively to the memory of my dear father, Jose Sulaiman.

This past Saturday we commemorated the seventh anniversary of that sad day in which he entered into the path of no return . There is no age to die, there is no age to lose a loved one, although time heals everything, the memory will always be fresh and present.

My dad was a wonderful human being who enjoyed life intensely. His simplicity and humbleness  opened the doors of the hearts of thousands  and his dedication to serve others distinguished him as the best friend anyone could have. His life was complete, and as he repeated, he did everything as Frank Sinatra would sing “My Way” (his way).

I would like to talk about his passions  and what he did during his life.

Baseball, the sport he loved. He was a great player who was even signed by the Boston Braves but a fracture while sliding at home plate deprived him of continuing his dream and he had to return to Mexico. They called him the “Huasteco Bob Feller”, because of his great pitching, he threw the ball at high speed and was the king of the strikeouts . Our life revolved around baseball, because we all played in Lindavista Little League, there we spent every weekend from sunrise to sunset, Dad as manager and coach of our teams while my mom was always in charge of the league’s dining room.

Finally, when we grew older, we enjoyed a wonderful time as the “Vagabundos” team played every Sunday; Don Jose the manager, Sandro DeMiguel the coach and the four Sulaiman children on the field, playing with a sensational group of friends since childhood . I would change any day of my life to be able to live again one of those days. When we finished, we all used to go to Rio Bamba, our home, to enjoy snacks and beers, having great times, remembering anecdotes of the game amid laughter from our leader.

Photography, Don Jose’s passion. In addition to being the owner and CEO of Graphic Controls Mexico factory, president of the World Boxing Council, president of the Lindavista baseball league, father of six among  other occupations, he decided to honor his passion and took photography correspondence courses by mail. All his sons and daughters were his models, especially Lucy. It was common that when we came back home from school we would pose to help him with his photography studies which he used to  send to be graded by Nikon. While on family vacations, He would often stop in the freeways for up to an hour on the road to take the perfect photograph looking for the exact lighting. His definition of photography “An instant in life that will never happen again.”

Food, his ultimate pleasure. My dad didn’t drink, he didn’t smoke, he didn’t party, his only great satisfaction was eating. He would not order lobster or caviar, he was happy with the home dishes  that my mother prepared for him or with his eggs from Sanborns, his favorite local restaurant. We loved to see how he enjoyed a good strawberry ice cream. He lived much of his life on a diet, he always said that he lost 5,000 pounds but gained 5015. The first time I took my now wife Christiane with my family for a Sunday luncheon , we went to the Gondola restaurant in the Zona Rosa, my father ordered 4 dishes and Chris being a Nutritionist just watched with great surprise. During this moment my father told her: “ Chris, I am on this new diet  and taking these pills that take away hunger… ” To which my then girlfriend replied “It seems to me that they don’t work very well right?”  After a complete silence by all, my father started  laughing loudly for everyone’s relief …

Work, He dedicated his life to work tirelessly, his motto was “Nothing is impossible in life, some things may take longer but nothing is impossible.” Since he was a child he worked behind the counter at the store of our dear grandfather Don Elias; in Ciudad Victoria he founded the 20-30 club and had a diversity of activities including selling  shoes throughout the region; he built the “ Avenida Cinema” together with his uncle Jorge Chagnon and eventually fate took him to Mexico City to dedicate his life to Graphic Controls, the manufacturing company which has been the family business since 1963. He was relentless, he worked harder than anyone and with exemplary dedication, he was a visionary, perfectionist and innovative. I always remember seeing him in the dining room of our home, full of papers and always working.

Boxing, He grew up in a small town, Ciudad Valles, his childhood friends were boxers. A mediocre boxer himself as he retired due to broken jaw and nose. He first hand learned and experienced how tough this sport was by seeing the abuse and inhumane practices that occurred within boxing. He dreamed of one day having the power to change things and it happened. As President of his beloved WBC he managed to revolutionize this sport. With all the rules that he changed and implemented, many lives have been saved and the future of those who finish their career in the ring and so then they can enjoy a healthy life.

His Family, his greatest treasure. He was an exceptional son, he eternally honored the memory of his mother, Doña Wasila, who passed away at only 41 and always adored his father. He was the older brother, always taking care of Nelly and Uncle Toy. He formed a united family with Doña Martha, six children and fourteen grandchildren. He always insisted on love and unity among us. He was always present to be the father of the family and he found in my mother the unconditional support and help to be able to go out to conquer the world when there were no computers, internet, fax, cell phone nor social networks. He made every second as a family worthwhile and gave himself to us, sacrificing everything, to give us education and projection in life. My Mom was the force that drove him through difficult times and was the magic touch that maintained a much-needed balance within the family.

He died peacefully, in the company of all his loved ones, happy to see the unity that he always encouraged us to maintain by having us all together during his complicated hospital stay. He managed to say goodbye to many of his champions and friends who visited him in intensive care unit at UCLA hospital in Los Angeles. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chávez, Ray Leonard, Oscar De la Hoya, Jeff Fenech, Wladimir Klitschko his dear brother Carlos Slim and Don King among so many more champions and friends  who took the time to travel to visit him and give our family warmth and hope. It was boxing that took us as family into its arms  when he left us. The unforgettable demonstration of affection that we received since he gave his last breath, the thousands who attended, from many parts of the world  to say goodbye to him during the wake and services. The BOXING community  took us by the hand to be able to follow the path, to keep the dream  alive and carry on with  Jose Sulaiman’s legacy.

Today, seven years after his departure, we continue witnessing thousands displays of affection, we continue to see that warm smile, feeling his presence in every step we take and following the path that he left us marked in this world. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the care and attentions that the Sulaiman Saldivar family received this past Saturday remembering our beloved father.

Round 12: 7 Años sin Don José  

Por Mauricio Sulaimán – Hijo de José Sulaimán – presidente del WBC
La columna del día de hoy la dedicare exclusivamente a la memoria de mi querido padre, José Sulaimán, este pasado sábado se cumplieron siete años de aquel triste día en el que se nos adelanto en el camino sin retorno. No hay edad para morir, no hay edad para perder a un ser querido, aunque el tiempo sana todo, el recuerdo siempre sera fresco y estará presente.
Mi papa fue un ser maravilloso que disfruto intensamente de la vida. Su sencillez le abrió las puertas del corazón de miles de personas y su dedicación a servir lo distinguió como el mejor amigo que cualquiera pudiera tener. Su vida fue completa, y como el tanto lo repetía, todo lo hizo “ A Mi Manera “.
Me gustaría platicar de sus grandes gustos y lo que hacia.
El beisbol, el deporte de sus amores. Fue un gran pelotero que inclusive fue firmado por los Bravos de Boston pero una fractura en una barrida en Home lo privo de continuar con su sueño y tuvo que regresar a Mexico. Lo llamaban el Bob Feller huasteco , por su gran pitcheo, lanzaba la bola a gran velocidad y era el rey del ponche. Nuestra vida giro alrededor del beis, pues todos jugábamos en la liga pequeña Lindavista, ahí se dieron todos los fines de semana de sol a sol, mi papa manager de equipos y mi mama ayudando en el comedor de la liga. Por ultimo, ya mas grandes disfrutamos de una época maravillosa pues el equipo “Vagabundos” jugaba cada domingo; Don José el manager, Sandro DeMiguel el coach y los cuatro hijos en el campo de juego junto a un sensacional grupo de amigos desde la infancia. Cambiaría cualquier día de mi vida por poder vivir unos de esos días. Al terminar todos caímos a Riobamba, a casa para entrarle a la botana y la cheve contando anécdotas del juego en medio de carcajadas de nuestro líder.
La fotografía, la pasion de Don Jose. Ademas de ser dueño y director general de la fabrica Controles graficos, Presidente del Consejo Mundial de Boxeo, Presidente de la liga de beisbol Lindavista, padres de seis y otras ocupaciones mas, decidio perfeccionar su pasión y tomo cursos por correspondencia de fotografía. Sus modelos pues éramos nosotros los hijos, es especial Lucy y era común que llegando de la escuela nos pusiera a posar para poder tomar sus fotografías y hacer sus practicas que enviaba para ser calificadas a la Nikkon. Era común que en carretera se detuviera hasta por una hora a tomar la fotografia perfecta buscando la iluminación exacta. Su definición de la fotografia “ Un instante en la vida que jamas regresara”.
La comida, su máximo placer. Mi papa no tomaba, no fumaba, no era de fiesta, su única gran satisfacción era comer. El no pedía langosta ni caviar, el era feliz con las migas con huevo que mi mama le preparaba o con sus huevos divorciados de Sanborns . Cómo disfrutaba de un buen helado de fresa. Vivió gran parte de su vida a dieta, siempre dijo que bajo 5 mil kilos pero subió 5015. La primer comida a la que lleve a mi ahora esposa Christiane con mi familia, fuimos a la Gondola en la Zona Rosa, mi papa pidió 4 platillos y Chris siendo Nutriologa solo observaba. En eso mi papa le pregunta “ Hija, fíjese que estoy tomando estas pastillas que quitan el hambre…. “ a lo que mi entonces novia respondió “ Me parece que no sirven de mucho verdad? “ , después de un silencio total, mi papa soltó la carcajada …….
El trabajo, su vicio. Dedico su vida a trabajar incansablemente, su lema era “ Nada es imposible en la vida, algunas cosas quizá tomen mas tiempo pero nada es imposible”. Desde niño atendió la tienda de nuestro querido abuelo Don Elías, en Ciudad Victoria fundo el club 20-30 y tenia una diversidad de actividades incluyendo vender zapato de León en toda la región , construyo junto con su tío Jorge Chagnon el “Cine Avenida” y el destino lo llevo a la Capital para dedicarle su vida a Controles Gráficos. Era implacable, trabajó mas que nadie y con dedicación ejemplar, perfeccionista e innovador. Recuerdo siempre verlo en el comedor de la casa, lleno de papeles y siempre trabajando.
El Boxeo, su vida entera. Creció en Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosi, amigo de boxeadores y boxeador fracasado pues le fracturaron la quijada y la nariz. Aprendio lo duro que es este deporte al ver el abuso y las practicas inhumanas que se daban dentro del boxeo. Soñó con algún dia tener poder para cambiar las cosas y así sucedió. Como Presidente de su adorado CMB logro revolucionar este deporte y con todas las reglas que cambió e implemento se han salvado muchas vidas y se ha dignificado el futuro de quienes terminan su carrera en el ring y pueden disfrutar de una vida en salud.
Su Familia, su mas grande tesoro. Fue un hijo excepcional, honró eternamente el recuerdo de su madre Doña Wasila, quien falleció a los 41 años y adoro a su padre, fue el hermano mayor, siempre cuidando de Nelly y el tío toy. Formó con Doña Martha una familia unida, seis hijos y catorce nietos. Siempre inculcó y exigió el amor y la unidad entre nosotros. Siempre estuvo presente para ser el padre de familia y encontró en mi mama el soporte y apoyo incondicional para el poder salir a conquistar el mundo cuando no existían las computadoras, internet, fax, celular ni redes sociales. Logró que cada segundo en familia valiera y se entregó en cuerpo y alma a nosotros, sacrificando todo, para darnos educación y proyección en la vida. Mi Mamá fué Ia fuerza que lo impulsó en los momentos difíciles y fué el toque mágico que que mantenía un balance tan necesario dentro de la familia.
El murió tranquilo, en compañía de todos sus seres queridos, feliz de ver la unidad que siempre insistió que mantuviéramos al tenernos a todos juntos durante su complicada estancia en el hospital. Logro despedirse de muchos de sus campeones y amigos que lo visitaron en terapia intensiva. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Chávez, Leonard, su querido hermano Carlos Slim y Don King entre muchísimos más que se tomaron el tiempo de viajar a visitarlo. Fué el boxeo quien nos arropo cuando el se nos fue. La inolvidable demostración de cariño que recibimos desde que dio su ultimo suspiro, los miles que asistieron, de muchas partes del mundo y de toda la república a despedirlo en el panteón francés donde nos tomaron de la mano para seguir el camino , para mantener vivo el legado de Jose Sulaiman, para seguir soñando y siempre ser personas de bien.
Hoy a siete años de su partida seguimos siendo objeto de multiples muestra de cariño, seguimos viendo esa sonrisa tan cálida, sintiendo su presencia en todo paso que damos y siguiendo el camino que el nos dejo marcado en este mundo . Quiero aprovechar para agradecer todas las atenciones que la familia Sulaiman Saldivar recibió este pasado sábado recordando a nuestro querido padre.

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