Magnanimous. Charismatic. Love. Charitable. His smile lit up a room. He smiled with his whole face drawing you in, his eyes always so bright sparkling with ideas he couldn’t wait to share. His energy and passion infused every space he occupied. He was electric. He made you dream big, while insisting that you weren’t dreaming big enough. He made you want to be better, do better. Mediocrity was not an option. He was generous with his time, his energy, and his knowledge. He made you feel special not because he wanted something in exchange, but because he was intentional about being present with the person he was engaging, in the moment, every moment. Ibukun was Magic.
Nigerian. American. Omo Naija, Omo Oyo. Omo bo ki ija, omo boki ija, omo tori ija, da oko e si eba ona. Ibukun loved Nigeria. He loved being Yoruba and he loved his culture. His command of the Yoruba language was something to behold. Ever respectful and the first to prostrate for an elder - no wonder he was a favorite amongst the parents! His commitment to the country of his childhood was just one example of the loyalty he brought to the people he loved and his relationships. Unconditional love and acceptance despites inevitable flaws. Loyal. This characteristic served as the foundation of his relationships - Family. Friendship. Brotherhood. A dedicated participant in all.
Dreamer. Fearless. Spirited. Fighter. It was almost as if he knew he would be gone too soon - he lived life to the fullest, unapologetically pursuing every dream, not without fear and challenges but in spite of them. He lived his life with a sense of urgency eager to see the world and constantly engaging in new experiences. He was relentless in the pursuit of his dreams. One of his favorite saying was “small thing like elephant” meaning no matter how big a problem is, don’t look at its size but take it one bite at a time. He was never afraid to take the road less travelled.
Focused. Determined. Grit. Unrelenting. He had a singular focus when it came to his goals and a resilience to be admired. He breathed life into his dreams with his work ethic and determination. He was a think-tank and a strategist that would piece ideas together in brilliant ways that’s outside the box. He was innovative. He brought that work ethic to all he did - his fitness, his hobbies, his personal and professional life. He always strived to be the best and surrounded himself with people who challenged him and pushed him. And he gave as much if not more than he took.
Son. Brother. Husband. Father. Friend. He was the epitome of love and making soul connections. He was very loved and loved passionately in return. He was raised to be his brother’s keeper and would never leave any man behind. In his most important role as a father, he shined. He loved his girls unconditionally. He was proud of them and bragged on them non-stop. He had such big aspirations for them that they will experience opportunities that was never available to him. Super-hero. Spend a few minutes with his girls and you can see their Dad shining through.
He left an indelible mark on us all and we are better for it. Ibukun, sun re o!
Onward IBK, onward.
Celebration of Life - April 2, 2021
Funeral Service - 11:00am - 12:30pm
Keeney & Basford Funeral Home
106 East Church St.
Frederick, MD 21701
NOTE - Due to COVID restrictions, the funeral service has limited capacity. For those unable to attend in person, please follow at the Youtube link starting at 11am EST -
Celebration of life for Ibukun (Tony) Oyetunde Ashamu.
Cemetery - 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Mount Olivet Cemetery
515 S Market St.
Frederick, MD 21701
