Sad News Regarding a Long Time Member

[Mathguy]

Mahmoud Ghannam was better known as "Baseball Is Life" or BIL on WNFF.  I just received this email from his wife Patricia:


Dear Brian and Debbie,

With heartfelt sadness, I regret to let you know that my beloved and dearest Mahmoud passed away on March 9 due to long battle with cancer.  Jordan, Evan and I are doing our best day to day to understand and deal with our loss. I am amazed on how many people Mahmoud touched and the out pouring of affection our family has received the past week.   

One promise Mahmoud requested was that the Mahmoud Ghannam Nationals Legacy and Charter/Tenure Ticket Holder status would continue. Mahmoud schooled, tutored, mentored, instructed and provided notes to Jordan and me on how to move forward. No one could plan for the 2021 Nationals season.  Thankfully our Nationals ticket representative and Mahmoud were very close and she is providing personal assistance on managing the 2021 Nationals season.   

You have always been so generous sharing your home with our family and we are very grateful. Thank you. We wish you the best and please stay safe.

Sincerely,
Patricia Ghannam

[DCFan]

Mahmoud Ghannam was better known as "Baseball Is Life" or BIL on WNFF.  I just received this email from his wife Patricia:

Wow, thanks for letting us know.

[Natsinpwc]

Wow, thanks for letting us know.

Ditto. Really shocking. I am glad that he got to see the Nats win a championship. 

[DCFan]

Ditto. Really shocking. I am glad that he got to see the Nats win a championship. 

I remember that he and his son were big time bobblehead collectors so we met a couple of times in Vienna to trade. He was a nice guy and way too young to die.

[Mathguy]

That was my reaction as well.  We met talking about doing a house swap, where we stayed at his house in Falls Church so we could go to Nats games each year and his family had a place at the beach for a week.

He also got us tickets for the NL Championship games in 2019, which seemed amazing.  But he was volunteering on something with the Nats and the foundation his wife mentioned.

He & I enjoyed the Nats t-shirts I had made in 2019: - the ones with the player's name of Impeach and number 45.

I remember that he and his son were big time bobblehead collectors so we met a couple of times in Vienna to trade. He was a nice guy and way too young to die.

[imref]

Thanks for sharing MG. Rest In Peace BiL.

I found the obituary online.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=mahmoud-ghannam-jeff&pid=198037388

[Five Banners]

Wow, thanks for letting us know.

Yep, condolences for the family

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Only met him once, around 2010.  I think we both picked up RCR tickets for the Diamond Club, got to talking, and found out we both post on WNFF.  Sad news, indeed. Read the obit.  Turns out, same HS class (different schools).   

[DPMOmaha]

So sad to hear. RIP, BiL.

[The Chief]

Wow.  Really puts things in perspective.  I'm glad he and I made peace after the Nats won the series.  I'd been wondering where he was the last couple of years

Really sorry for his family's loss.  Thanks for letting us know, Mathguy.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I broke this off into its own thread.  Glad BiL got the joy of seeing a world series win.

[HondoKillebrew]

Never met him but do remember his active posting here.  Saddened to hear of his passing, and my condolences to his family and friends.  So glad that he got so much enjoyment out of watching and following the Nats and, as was said above, that he got to see them win a WS.  RIP, BIL (Jeff). 

[GburgNatsFan]

Very sad news. RIP BiL. You'll be missed.

[GataNats]

RIP

[rileyn]

Sad news.  RIP BIL.

[Smithian]

Never had pleasure of meeting BiL in person, but one of my favorite posters. I’ll miss his insights. It ended too soon, but Love reading an obituary of a life well lived!!

[OldChelsea]

According to his profile he was last active here on 16th December 2019; I was wondering what had happened to him - but this is tragic.

[skippy1999]

Omgosh what sad news I will forever think of him as the happy daisy he had as his avatar for the longest time, so very sorry to read this but thanks for letting us all know MG.

[GburgNatsFan]

Omgosh what sad news I will forever think of him as the happy daisy he had as his avatar for the longest time, so very sorry to read this but thanks for letting us all know MG.

I thought that was the sun, not a daisy?

[Elvir Ovcina]

I thought that was the sun, not a daisy?

It was, but I don't think seeing it as a daisy changes the meaning much.  He was the lead member of the SSS (Sunshine Squad), who were always positive - sometimes irrationally so - in the face of the team's failures.  I too am glad he got to see his optimism vindicated.

[skippy1999]

I thought that was the sun, not a daisy?

Happy daisy was before the sun. The sun was happy too though

[GburgNatsFan]

It was, but I don't think seeing it as a daisy changes the meaning much.  He was the lead member of the SSS (Sunshine Squad), who were always positive - sometimes irrationally so - in the face of the team's failures.  I too am glad he got to see his optimism vindicated.

Yes, I'm a part-time member. I worried about our leaders sometimes lol

[GburgNatsFan]

Happy daisy was before the sun. The sun was happy too though

I do not remember the daisy, but it's all good. Thanks.

[skippy1999]

I do not remember the daisy, but it's all good. Thanks.

That's ok, it's understandable    

[KnorrForYourMoney]

RIP.  Best to his family.  Cancer sucks.