Tarik Ayasun on Turkey after the Earthquake

Tarik Ayasun, a Marco Island resident and successful international businessman, was born in Istanbul, Turkey. He was the February Senior luncheon speaker and talked about the February 6th 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southeastern Turkey and neighboring Syria. Ayasun spoke of the tragic news of an estimated 50,000 people dead and thousands more injured during the earthquake. He also mentioned the efforts of various international organizations trying to help out with the estimated 600,000 who were left homeless and many more needing to be rescued from the rubble. According to Tarik, unofficially, the death toll is closer to 100,000 people.

“Life after the Earthquake in Turkey” was also the topic of Ayasun’s talk at the August Senior Luncheon. The Turkish people are resilient, and slowly the residents are carving out a life amid the chaos and rubble, said Ayasun. Construction of homes and buildings is currently ongoing with the help of the government and other European countries. Already, the remaining soccer team members are beginning to regroup and practice.

Several years ago, Ayasun wrote an article for the Coastal Breeze News on the Virgin Mary as holy to both Christians and Muslims in Turkey. He recalled a visit as a young man when his mother took him to the birthplace of the Virgin Mary – a five-hour drive from Istanbul. As a student, Ayasun was a disaster and did nothing but play soccer and his mother was unhappy with him. His mother was hoping that this visit would have a miraculous effect on Ayasun once he drank the holy water. His mother was a true believer in the miracles of the Virgin Mary. 

Once Ayasun started working in New Jersey with his young family, his mother wanted to come and live closer to her grandchildren. Once again, she took a trip to the Virgin Mary’s house and asked for a sign and claimed that she saw the Virgin Mary blink. A sign that this plan would come true!

Ayasun’s parents eventually came to the U.S. and were looking for a house to buy close to Tarik and his family. They settled on a house with lots of trees in the backyard, but it was very overgrown. In the process of clearing the vegetation, they discovered a four-foot Virgin Mary icon. Ayasun shared that his mother repainted the Virgin Mary blue with a white pedestal each year. Another sign that this move was blessed!

Fast forward to Marco Island. Ayasun wrote an article in the Coastal Breeze News about the Virgin Mary icon, and two weeks later, a stranger came to his office and left him a package containing antique icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To Ayasun, this was above and beyond belief. And the stranger wanted Ayasun to take the icons back to the people of Turkey, but it is not easy to cross international borders with antique religious relics. Ayasun tried contacting him to thank him but had no luck. Ayasun shared, "Because we believe so much that this means a lot to us.”

Other events at the luncheon included Emily Savage leading a Happy Birthday sing-along to Darol Traeger. Lunch was prepared by Barbara Canton and served by the women volunteers from Hideaway. The event was blessed by the new pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church, Pastor Matt White. Many thanks to all the sponsors: Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, Marco Lutheran Church, The YMCA, Sunshine Stitchers, Al’s Pal, and all the dedicated volunteers.