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"Will" Zarifi
Life Stories
This feature chronicles the lives of recently deceased Tucsonans. Some were well-known across the community. Others had an impact on a smaller sphere of friends, family and acquaintances. Many of these people led interesting — and sometimes extraordinary — lives with little or no fanfare. Now you'll hear their stories. Past "Life Stories" are online at go.azstarnet.com/lifestories
"He didn't think, 'Why me?' He thought, 'Why not me?' I can't believe I met a person this age who had the kind of impact he had on my life."
Tim Floyd, head basketball coach, USC

Tucson Region

William Zarifi: Selflessness, courage marked too-short life

By Kimberly Matas
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.15.2008
Willpower. Will power. Will's power.
William "Will" Ghotme Zarifi had a talent for making others into better people by force of personality or just plain force.
He used humor to cajole friends and family into donating to children's charities.
The 2005 Salpointe Catholic High School graduate used his wry wit to coax classmates to think more deeply about politics and question convention.
And during his time at the University of Southern California, where he studied business and served as the men's basketball team manager, he inspired friends and teammates with his strength, courage and determination.
At his funeral Monday, Zarifi's family handed out wristbands to mourners. The red and black rubber bands were imprinted with a motto adopted by his friends: Will Power.
Zarifi died Thursday at his family's Tucson home after a nearly three-year struggle with brain cancer. He was 21. It was a battle Zarifi fought to the end, sure he would prevail.
"He was a persistent, bright, dynamic young man. That's why we're all so stunned. We're all so used to him succeeding. We thought he could beat the cancer," Salpointe science teacher Anne Baffert said.
Though he couldn't bend cancer to his will, Zarifi battled against death by living with optimism instead of yielding to fear and self-pity.
Despite the insistence of family and friends that he take a break from school after being diagnosed during his sophomore year at USC, Zarifi was intent on finishing his studies.
"I tried my best to stop him from continuing his education, but he was committed," said his father, Ahmad Zarifi. Will was one of Ahmad and his wife, Samia's, four children.
Will Zarifi maintained a 4.0 grade-point average at USC while undergoing surgeries and multiple rounds of chemo- and radiation therapy during school breaks. His goal was to be the valedictorian of the Class of 2009.
Zarifi's cancer had briefly gone into remission but returned by spring with a vengeance, leaving him so weakened that he could do little more than eat and sleep.
At his memorial service in the Salpointe gymnasium, where Zarifi spent countless hours during high school shooting hoops with friends, his USC roommate, T.J. Ross, told more than 600 people just how committed Zarifi was to succeeding despite his illness.
Though his sense of balance and concentration were impaired, Zarifi was determined to complete his final exams in May.
He got up early to study on the day of his last final and collapsed en route to the test. Paramedics wanted to transport Zarifi to the hospital, but he persuaded Ross to intervene.
"He said to me: 'Dude, convince these guys to go away. I'm taking my final,' " Ross said.
"He didn't want to let his illness take away his normal life."
Zarifi's goal was to become a wealthy businessman and own a pro sports team. It wasn't greed that drove Zarifi to seek his fortune, but a sense of humanity and compassion.
Friends said Zarifi wanted to keep just enough money to live comfortably, spend a little to pay for a private performance from favorite musician Dave Matthews and give away the rest to charity.
In the months before his death, Zarifi had continued sending money each month to a children's charity in Africa.
His family had no idea about Zarifi's altruism until his father took over managing his son's finances and saw the deductions from his checking account.
"He wasn't your typical college student," said USC head basketball coach Tim Floyd. "He was so different than any young guy I ever met. He wasn't in this inner world where he was worried about himself. He was worried about everybody else."
When it came to Zarifi's cancer diagnosis, the coach said, "He didn't think 'Why me?' He thought, 'Why not me?'
"I can't believe I met a person this age who had the kind of impact he had on my life," Floyd said at Zarifi's memorial.
Zarifi wasn't a typical high school student, either.
"He was always engaged and truly loved learning. It was clear from the very first day that Will was one of a kind," said Marco Enriquez, who teaches the Advanced Placement politics and government class that Zarifi took in his senior year.
"He would challenge his classmates on almost every political position or issue that they might raise. He didn't hesitate to challenge all forms of thinking — conventional or otherwise. I remember how he brilliantly used his sharp wit and humor to analyze the workings of our political system," Enriquez said.
The Rev. Rick Zamorano, chairman of Salpointe's theology department, remembered Zarifi as a thoughtful student.
"I taught Will when he was a sophomore and one of the things that really impressed me about him was his ability to make people — students and myself — think about why one believes what they do; not only about religion, but about moral and ethical issues, even politics," Zamorano said.
"It's not only believing what someone tells you just because you should, but the bigger question is, why do I believe it? That is the question that Will always wanted me and his classmates to answer."
● To suggest someone for Life Stories, contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191. Read more from this reporter at: go.azstarnet.com/lastwrites
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