Rafi Hamawi, a sports teacher in Ashdod, died at the age of 64 • He asked everyone to keep the guidelines - and was decided by the Corona • His son: "Do not underestimate the disease" • The Israelis who paid the heaviest price
Rafi Hamawi.
Fought until his death
Photography:
Courtesy of the family
At the end of Rosh Hashanah, Rafi Hamawi, 64, a well-respected physical education teacher at the city's third comprehensive school, was laid to rest in the Ashdod cemetery.
He is survived by his wife Sarit and three children: Elad, Dor and Noa.
Hamawi is the 43rd deceased so far from Corona in the city of Ashdod.
In the past, he was the fitness coach of the Ashdod urban football teams, and in his youth he was an outstanding athlete who competed in the Israeli championships in short and medium runs.
Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu's Twitter page
Fate wanted, and the teacher who in recent months had warned his students and acquaintances to stay away from the disease and follow the instructions - contracted the virus, was hospitalized in critical condition and for almost two months the doctors fought for his life until they determined his death.
"Stop underestimating the disease"
His son Elad, one of his three children, wrote sadly on Facebook after he died: "Dad, I can't digest that you are no longer with us."
The mourning son addressed "all Corona deniers," as he put it, and slammed them that his father "was a healthy person with no background illnesses, a 64-year-old athlete. Stop underestimating the disease," he asked.
The late Hamawi has educated generations of athletes.
Many came to accompany him on his final journey.
In the many eulogies given, among others by the chairman of the teachers' union Ran Erez, the high school principal Gila Shimoni and the mayor Yehiel Lasri, they all mentioned the teacher who for four decades instilled the love of sports alongside the love of man.
salt of the earth.
An educator in the full sense of the word.
The pillar of fire in front of the camp, "they stressed.
According to estimates, Hamawi became infected during his work for the teachers' organization.
"It was he, who made sure that his students and acquaintances kept to the instructions, contracted this serious virus. He fought until the last minute but his condition worsened rapidly. He was anesthetized and respirated for two months and at the end his strength ran out," his acquaintances said.
"An admirable person, there is no student who did not appreciate him," his students added.
Israeli Youth Champion
Years ago, Hamawi was an outstanding athlete, competed in the 100-meter dash and was the Israeli youth champion in the 100-meter dash.
The results he achieved in adulthood ranked him among the 40 best runners in Israel at the time.
He represented Israel in international competitions and was a member of the Apostles team for the 100-meter doubles, which held the Israeli record for a while.
The Hamawi sports teacher was also part of the Israeli Apostles team that held the national record for the 4X100.
Hamawi also represented Israel in international competitions and coached athletes at Wingate.
