Qul Sharif - Kazan

Arif Sadri, My Grandfather

I never met Arif Sadri. Some may spell his name Garif or Ğarif. His body is in the ground in the hills above Kobe Japan. On his headstone it reads that he was born in Kazan, along the Volga, the Capitol city of Tatarstan. I only know Arif Absi through photographs and a few stories. 

youthful Arif Sadri with unknown

1937

Arif clowning around with a friend with rickshaw

Arif on a Harley Davidson

Arif Sadri is stood here, front and center. He was a strong man and did wrestling and boxing. He was born in Kazan and was the second husband of my Grandmother, Halime. He was my father's father and also father of Fuat Sadri. Arif had two step-children from Halime's first marriage; Rahila (died in Uyghurstan) and Hayrullah (died in Turkey).

Arif in boxing gear when he was a bit younger

Arif Sadri with my Grandmother Halime. Halime was born in Chita, Siberia. 

Arif Sadri, Hayrullah, Halime Ebe, Rahila  - Kobe 

Rahila, Halime, Arif , Hayrullah

Arif, Hayrullah, Halime - Kobe Japan

Arif, Hayrullah in Kobe Japan

Happy Parents with their young children. 

Arif, Fazil, Halime, Fuat

Arif, Fuat

Fazil, Arif

Arif with the workers of the Russian owned chocolate factory where he worked.

 Arif at work in the chocolate factory

His specialty was Mixed Martial arts. Arif was a boxer. His opponent did Karate. 

Arif Sadri

The tragic death of Arif Sadri  - Halime Sadri, Fuat, Fazil 

Arif Sadri lying in state. 

Tatars typically follow Islamic tradition and bury the deceased right away, I believe within 24 hours. 

 at the funeral

Arif's body was carried in the most fantastic Asian hearse. 

Prayers outside the mosque - Kobe

Corona Tatar Mascot

This goose is the mascot of the Tatar community in San Francisco.  We are all quite ready for the Corona virus to move on.

Salih Saydashev - Tatar composer

Reis Gudaidullin - Teshleremde Yeshim