Amin (Oliver) Muhammad '75

July 1, 2024, Arizona City, AZ

Obituary & related links

Date reported: April 22, 2025

2 comments on Amin (Oliver) Muhammad '75

  1. I connected with Darell because freshman year I did my studying by the swimming pool because it was the only place I could get warm on campus during the winter. I used to position myself by the heater on the third level, in my skimpy tank suit, on the stretch mat. From there I would look down at the pool from time to time (and up from Chem and Calculus books) to be mezmerized by the back and forth fishmen of the swim team, doing their elegant flip turns and seemingly effortless miles. Among them was Darell, who was a butterfly swimmer and broke a Williams record at one point to a screaming, admiring crowd. He had butterfly shoulders.

    I swam in middle school (backstroke) and loved the water; at Williams I did my laps after the team and was a SCUBA diver with Bob Kaufman’s dive club.

    Darell would give me pointers about my freestyle that I remember and think back on to this day when I do my freestyle laps a our neighborhood pool in the summer.

    Another thing we had in common our frosh year was our struggle with Calculus. I withdrew failing during first semester, but recovered second semester. Unfortunately, Calc was the class that resulted in Darell being pushed to leave Williams. Only years later I happily learned he was not destroyed by that, but moved on to success at Morehouse. He continued swimming and teaching it to others.

    Like Hardy, I was pleased to see Darell at our 40th, and we exchanged addresses and then holiday greetings cards with long notes for a while. From those I learned Darell learned some things from me too, which he preciously shared during those subsequent exchanges and encounters. He suffered losses of 2 children and a grandchild; I was always sending him sympathy cards…..

    Despite his painful withdrawal from Williams, Amin still loved the place, and the people, and was somehow moved to return to the Purple Valley. That’s something to marvel at….

    May he RIPP

    Frank (‘Rick’) Richards ’75

  2. I lived with Amin (Darrell) and Wes Durham our freshman year. A year that was somewhat of a blur. Amin swam and I wrestled so our time was consumed by class and time in the gym. I remember what a force of nature he was in the pool. We re-connected over the 40th renunion and all his warmth and kindness was on full display. He made our lives richer.

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