Sa dubokom tugom i bolom u srcu primili smo vijest da je danas u Njujorku, u 71. godini života, preminuo Ismet Šujak, čovjek velikog srca, neizmjerne dobrote i jedan od najvećih humanista koje je Gusinje ikada imalo.

Ismetov životni put odveo ga je daleko od rodnog kraja, ali njegovo srce nikada nije napustilo zavičaj. U Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama bavio se ugostiteljstvom, a prije penzionisanja bio je vlasnik restorana Čakor u Bronksu, mjesta koje nije bilo samo restoran, već dom, utočište i sabiralište naših ljudi.

Bio je čovjek koji nikada nije okretao glavu od tuđe potrebe. Posebnu ljubav i pažnju posvećivao je djeci u zavičaju. Zahvaljujući njegovoj plemenitosti, mnoga djeca su po prvi put u životu vidjela more, osjetila radost ljeta i bezbrižnost djetinjstva. Ostaće upamćeno da je omogućio desetodnevno ljetovanje u Odmaralištu Žitište u Bijeloj za 62 učenika i 6 nastavnika iz osnovnih škola u opštinama Gusinje, Plav, Murino i Andrijevica – djelo koje govori više od hiljadu riječi. Donirao je školama i mnogim drugim ustanovama, a redovno se odazivao i u humanitarnim akcijama u SAD.

U restoranu Čakor, Ismet je ostavio i neizbrisiv trag u istoriji zajedništva, jer je upravo tu svojevremeno potpisano bratimljenje između njegovog rodnog grada i Bronksa, simbolično spajajući dva svijeta koja je on nosio u svom srcu.

Nama iz Fokusa Ismet Šujak će ostati upamćen i po jednoj posebnoj, gotovo porodičnoj priči – po godinama kada je njegov sin Hajro nizao pobjede u boksu, najprije u amaterskoj, a potom i u profesionalnoj karijeri. Tada nismo bili samo medij; bili smo saputnici, svjedoci i iskreni navijači.

 U tim trenucima sarađivali smo sa Ismetom i Hajrovim menadžerom, Deksom Pejčinovićem, putovali na mečeve, dijelili uzbuđenje, strepnju i ponos. Ismet je svaki Hajrov izlazak u ring doživljavao kao očevu borbu – dostojanstveno, tiho, ali sa srcem koje je kucalo jače od aplauza u dvorani.

Hajro, izuzetno vaspitan, fakultetski obrazovan mladić, rušio je tada Amerikance jedan za drugim, a mi smo s nestrpljenjem čekali svaki naredni meč da mu pružimo podršku. Zajedno sa Ismetom radovali smo se svakoj pobjedi, a rijetke poraze dočekivali s tugom, ali i vjerom da su dio puta koji gradi velike ljude i velike karijere.

To su uspomene koje se ne brišu – trenuci zajedništva, ponosa i iskrene ljudske povezanosti, po kojima ćemo Ismeta Šujaka zauvijek pamtiti.

Zdravoglava će se obaviti u četvrtak, 8. januara 2026. godine, od 16 do 23 sata, u Ali-pašinoj džamiji u Astoriji. Dženaza-namaz klanjaće se u petak, 9. januara 2026. godine, u 9 sati ujutro, nakon čega će se obaviti ukop na mezarju Laurel Grove Cemetery, na adresi 295 Totowa Road, Totowa, NJ 07512.

Ožalošćeni su: majka Seva, supruga Sultanija, sinovi Zećo, Hajro i Bennis, kćerke Medina i Sabina, braća Ujkan, Amir, Hasim i Samir, sestre Sadeta, Idajeta i Zehra, bratstva Šujak, Koljenović i Hadžović, te brojna rodbina i prijatelji.

Sead Hodžić

He connected Gusinje and the Bronx, helped children and the vulnerable in his homeland: A farewell to humanitarian Ismet Šujak

With deep sorrow and pain in our hearts, we received the news that today in New York, at the age of 71, Ismet Šujak passed away, a man of a great heart, immeasurable kindness, and one of the greatest humanitarians Gusinje has ever had.

Ismet’s life journey took him far from his homeland, but his heart never left it. In the United States of America, he was engaged in the hospitality business, and before retiring he was the owner of the Čakor restaurant in the Bronx, a place that was not only a restaurant, but also a home, a refuge, and a gathering place for our people.

He was a man who never turned away from the needs of others. He devoted special love and attention to children in his homeland. Thanks to his generosity, many children saw the sea for the first time in their lives, felt the joy of summer, and experienced the carefreeness of childhood. It will be remembered that he enabled a ten-day summer vacation at the Žitište Resort in Bijela for 62 students and 6 teachers from elementary schools in the municipalities of Gusinje, Plav, Murino, and Andrijevica – an act that speaks more than a thousand words. He donated to schools and many other institutions, and regularly took part in humanitarian actions in the USA.

At the Čakor restaurant, Ismet also left an indelible mark in the history of togetherness, because it was there that the twinning between his hometown and the Bronx was once signed, symbolically connecting the two worlds he carried in his heart.

For us at Fokus, Ismet Šujak will also be remembered through one special, almost family-like story – the years when his son Hajro was stringing together victories, first in his amateur and later in his professional career. At that time, we were not just a media outlet; we were companions, witnesses, and sincere supporters.

In those moments, we cooperated with Ismet and Hajro’s manager, Deks Pejčinović, traveled to the matches, and shared excitement, anxiety, and pride. Ismet experienced every one of Hajro’s entries into the ring as a father’s battle – with dignity, quietly, but with a heart that beat louder than the applause in the arena.

Hajro, an exceptionally well-mannered and university-educated young man, was then defeating Americans one after another, and we eagerly awaited each next match to offer him our support. Together with Ismet, we rejoiced in every victory, while the rare defeats were met with sorrow, but also with faith that they are part of the path that builds great people and great careers.

These are memories that do not fade – moments of togetherness, pride, and sincere human connection, by which we will remember Ismet Šujak forever.

The visitation (zdravoglava) will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM, at the Ali Pasha Mosque in Astoria. The Janazah prayer will be performed on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 9:00 AM, after which the burial will take place at Laurel Grove Cemetery, at 295 Totowa Road, Totowa, NJ 07512.

The mourners are: mother Seva, wife Sultanija, sons Zećo, Hajro, and Bennis, daughters Medina and Sabina, brothers Ujkan, Amir, Hasim, and Samir, sisters Sadeta, Idajeta, and Zehra, the Šujak, Koljenović, and Hadžović families, as well as numerous relatives and friends.