Chicago security officer dies from medical complications
Chicago IL June 7 2020
Mustafa Cadet Azeem, called Stan by many, was a lifelong Evanstonian known by family and friends as a man who devoted much of his life to mentoring youth.
Azeem died May 18 from complications arising from a heart attack and diabetes, according to his brother Ernst Cadet. He was 44.
“He was a gentle giant,” Cadet said of his brother who was once a high school football player. “He loved kids. He wanted to teach youth, particularly black youth about black history.”
Nadege Myers, Azeem’s sister, said her brother’s physical appearance masked what was beneath his frame.
“He was tall and husky and looked like a giant, but he had a soft heart,” Myers said.
Cadet said Azeem, who was diabetic, had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital where he was revived. He died the next day from what Cadet said he believes was diabetic shock.
A security guard at the Evanston Public Library for the last five years, Azeem’s colleagues there said he was always looking for ways to help people, particularly youngsters.
Lorena Neal, the legal literacy librarian, said he also continually had kind words for his co-workers.
“He was a friend to everyone,” Neal said. “He brought harmony and understanding to the library. Being a security guard was his job, but he was more of a peacemaker. He wanted to bring peace to individuals.”
Neal, who started working at the library around the same time as Azeem, said she remembers his humor. She was fond of the way he greeted colleagues as he made his rounds in the library.
“He’d say, ‘there she is, my favorite but don’t tell anyone I said it,’” Neal said. “Everyone was his favorite and everyone knew it.”
Jill Skwerski, the library’s acting director, said Azeem was the kind of person who did not need to say a word to make people around him feel good.
“He brought joy to everyone,” Skwerski said.
Azeem was born in Evanston growing up in the city and going to its schools. Cadet and Myers said he was rooted in the community. He left Evanston to attend college at Boston University and the University of Massachusetts in Boston, earning a sociology degree.
Raised a Roman Catholic, Cadet said Azeem embraced Islam as an adult.
Jill Schacter, the library’s community engagement coordinator, wrote on the organization’s Facebook page that Azeem was active at the Dar-us-Sunnah Masjid and Community Center in Evanston. Cadet said his faith made a difference in his brother’s life.
“It got him to become his higher self,” Cadet said. “It really rooted him. It completed him.”
Schacter said Azeem is the son of Haitian immigrants and his roots were also important to him. In 2010, after the Haitian earthquake, he was part of a team with Chicago firefighters who drove three ambulances to Florida where they were eventually shipped to Haiti as part of the relief effort.
In more recent years Azeem started JusBelieve, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping young people have a good sense of self. Cadet said he and others who knew Azeem and his dedication to youth hope to continue JusBelieve.
“He wanted to show kids the opportunities which were out in the world,” Cadet said. “He wanted to change the world through children.”
Cadet said Azeem wanted to use sports and journalism to help children achieve. He was ready to start a soccer program when the coronavirus pandemic stopped athletics. Azeem wanted the children to go out in the community and write about what was happening.
“I want to make it his legacy,” Cadet said of JusBelieve.
In addition to Cadet and Myers, Azeem is survived by his mother, Marie R. Cadet, another sister, Sherly Cadet, and seven nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held.
Chicago Tribune
