Yaseen Akhtar died on August 10, 2021, at age forty-eight, after many years of struggling with traumatic brain injury and mental health.
Yaseen will be missed by his loving parents, Denise Gour-Akhtar and Shahid Akhtar, who fought hard for years to get Yaseen the support he needed and to take care of him with love and compassion. He is survived by his big sister, Seema Akhtar, and her husband, Charles Haines. Yaseen also leaves behind two nieces, Safia and Ameena, and a nephew, Luca, who will miss their Uncle Yazzy very much.
Yaseen was fun-loving, kind and generous. He was compassionate, caring and incredibly smart. As a young child, Yaseen was curious about everything and could often be found investigating a praying mantis or a caterpillar--even in the middle of a soccer game! As an adult, his natural curiosity evolved into a passion for watching documentaries and YouTube. Yaseen could rhyme off sports results just as easily as he could engage on the details of current affairs, and he often regaled us with his eclectic knowledge. He was always ready to entertain his nieces and nephew--playing many marathon games of Monopoly, Checkers, Risk and even Pinkalicious Uno (which he did not enjoy!) with them. Even though Yaseen lived with more pain than anyone should have to endure in the past decade or so, he was always ready with a smile, a funny story or an anecdote.
Yaseen, wherever you are, we hope you are feeling free and light. We hope that all of your pain and suffering are gone. Maybe you're sitting in a boat on a beautiful lake with your rod in the water and the sun on your face. We love you.
Family and friends are invited to a graveside service in section 51S of the Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, on Friday, August 20 at 3 p.m.
Dress: smart casual
Due to COVID restrictions, the short service will take place outside. Please bring your own chairs, umbrellas and drinking water, as needed. Masks and physical distancing will be required.
Instead of flowers, we'd be grateful for donations in Yaseen's name to Brain Injury Canada (https://www.braininjurycanada.ca/en/donate) or to the Canadian Mental Health Association (https://cmha.ca)
Digital Guestbook
Judy B
Jamila Akhtar
There are no words to describe this loss, I feel it so heavily, yet I take solace in knowing that my dear cousin is no longer in pain, and is at peace now. I always found Yaseen to be highly aware of so many things. He was smart and intuitive, a rare combination. It was admirable to see, and a breath of fresh air. I always liked how he was able to see different perspectives and entertain two sides of a story. He had a true gift with it. I'm so glad I was able to know him and call him family. I love you, we all love you. Rest easy cousin. All my love, Jamila
Cory P
To Mr. and Mrs. Akhtar. My deepest condolences for the loss of your son. I cannot imagine the heavy burden you and Seema/family are carrying in this time of loss and mourning. May your hearts be comforted by the fond memories of Yaseen. I would also like to thank you very much for bringing such a wonderful child into this world. You raised a fine man and I, like many others were undeservedly graced with knowing and loving such a good man, our friend Yaseen.
I have so many fond memories of Yaseen. He was a great “pal.” He was smart as a whip, a thinker, doer, kind, generous, stubborn, argumentative like an old mule. He was also loyal and dependable. We broke a lot of bread in our time – he was always good company and up for good food or a munch. He easily navigated different groups and kept a wide network of friends which brought together a mix of good people. He was loved by many.
Yak was at times a great host, neighbour, game, travel and buffet buddy, fellow concert goer, wing man, a shoulder, my roommate, always a friend. We used to stay up all night hanging with the gang, sports, sports, and more sports, talking travel, debating, listening to music, playing games, thinking up business ideas, finance/investing, odds, early computing, the latest tech and the promise it had, talking history, politics, culture, the why’s of the world and our eternal Risk and poker wars. You were also a worthy and honourable opponent.
My mellow man…Fat Alberts, The Yak Yelp/What!, Middle Fingers & “that suspicious look”, Stanger Spot, Total Mares, the river, poolside, the hill, Zeppelin & Floyd, The Dead, concerts, Le Hull, Fuego, Perez, Concorde/981 Gulf, Za, The Dragon Buffet, Montreal, house hunting in Toronto, Vegas. We then drifted apart but I had lots of good memories and like other times over the years knew we would pass through or connect again…always easy just like old times. And although I wish you were here…so, it will be again.
Until we meet again Pal
Kevin Grosser
My condolences to Yaseens family. Lots of fun memories with him. I hope your resting easy Yak, you were a great guy.
Katherine Morrow
Deepest condolences on the loss of a dear son, brother, uncle and friend.
Krista Olson
My condolences to the family. Although I had not seen Yaseen in many years, I have fond, happy memories of him in our youth. He was incredibly smart, witty with a great sense of humour. He was a good friend and a good man. Rest in peace Yaseen.
Caroline & Rico Battikha
We attended the service yesterday and want to express to the whole family how touching and beautiful it was. To witness the support and the strength of the bond between each family member and to hear your deep love for Yaseen through your memories. Our deepest sympathies to all your family.
Caroline Paterson
I will always remember growing up with Yaseen & Nahid, spending endless hours together talking, debating, and most of all, laughing. Yaseen had the most wonderful sense of humour and an infectious laugh, and he could keep us entertained for hours. We remained friends throughout high school and into our twenties, until life pulled us in different directions. Yaseen was a kind-hearted, and generous soul. Rest in peace, old friend.
Glenn McIntosh
Yaseen was my dearest and closest friend.
It's rare to have a true friend who as all of his friends know - would do anything for his friends without hesitation.
Our friendship lasted 35 years… we were schoolmates, co-workers, roommates but most importantly we were best buds.
Qualities that come to mind for most of us:
• Kind and caring
• Giving, never selfish
• Fun-loving
• Generous
• Genuine and authentic
• Compassionate, Empathic
• Curious
• An amazing sense of humor and his laugh, oh his laugh
• Smart – like really smart!
If this world had more Yaseen’s in it, it would be a much better place.
Yaseen, wherever you are, we hope you feel free and have a heavy weight lifted off of your shoulders.
We will miss your smile, but more than that, we will miss the way you used to comfort us when we were upset or how your laugh was the best sound in the world. RIP pal.
Eric Gagnon
I remember how close you were to my brother Marty and I always enjoyed when you visited our household. You were always kind to me, despite being the bratty younger brother. I know your friendship meant the world to my brother and my parents always appreciated you being there for him as they knew you were kind, intelligent and loyal. Rest In Peace.
Mes plus sincères condoléances à Denise, Shahid, Seema et la famille et amis(es). Bon courage. Vous êtes dans mes pensées. Repose en paix Yaseen.