Statement
Statement From Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on the Death of Tufail Ahmad
For Immediate Release: Wednesday 19 January
Last week, Montgomery County lost a champion for people who was a wonderful leader and advocate. Tufail Ahmad was a pillar in our County and a major presence in the Muslim community. I had the pleasure of knowing him for more than 20 years, and he was a tireless trailblazer for justice and one of the most gentle and compassionate human beings I have ever known. Tufail saw us all as part of the human family, and he seemed to never grow weary of striving to make life better for the people of Montgomery County.
Tufail Ahmad was born in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), India in 1938, migrated to Pakistan where he served as Pakistan’s deputy auditor general, and he then migrated with his family to Montgomery County in 1973. As a County resident, he worked to enhance the relationship between different ethnic and religious communities within the County. After the events of Sept. 11, 2001, he worked to establish an effective dialogue between the Muslim and Jewish communities as part of his effort to bring the communities together. In 2007 he established the Montgomery County Muslim Foundation (MCMF), an organization that focuses on feeding the hungry and homeless, helping the needy, assisting senior citizens and youth, and improving relationships with other communities and faiths. Tufail was recognized for his work in the community and received numerous awards and recognitions from the public and private sector including the Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award, the Maryland Governor’s Service Award, the Maryland Muslim Council Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award.
I will miss Tufail. He was my friend and my partner in the fight for equality for all people. He was committed to building a more just and understanding society; and Montgomery County has suffered a tremendous loss with his passing. He was someone who strove to be the best person that he could be, and I will miss his infectious smile. May peace be with him and those who loved and worked with him. His work was not complete, and now it is our job to continue his legacy. He truly made a difference.
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Release ID: 22-004