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Tamkeen N. Khan
Tamkeen N. Khan of Water Mill died of an aortic aneurysm on April 29 at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. He was 83.
He was the beloved husband of Marian Passidomo Khan, and they had 43 years of a most happy marriage together.
“Tam,” as he was called, was born in Hyderabad Deccan, India, a self-governing princely state around Telangana, and for the past several decades a major center for the technology industry. Bill Gates founded a university in the area, which is called Tech City.
His father, Abdul Naim Khan, was the police commissioner in that locale, and his mother, Moin Unisa Khan, was the mother of nine children, of whom he was the youngest.
He left India after graduating from Osmania University, with honors, to work for Exxon in Pakistan. Trained as an accountant, he traveled to other areas, and then to Rome, Italy, to work for the largest construction company in the world at that time, Cogi Fa Astaldi, now called Astaldi — an Italian company which has built highways and bridges all over the world, including in the United States. After living on the Via Veneto in Rome for a year, he made the decision to emigrate to the United States.
The United States beckoned him, as it has for millions, largely through Hollywood movies. He loved the matinees he saw as a youngster and teenager in the local movie theater and dreamed of living in the United States.
His dreams came true via Chicago, which was his entry point into the country, and then eventually he found his way to New York City. Chicago was just too cold. New York City was just right, and he lived and worked in the city for many years.
While there, he and Marian met and married. Since she was a part-time resident of Southampton, he also became a resident and they built the house in which they lived in Water Mill. Being an outgoing, sociable man who loved people and good times, he was the most generous and gracious host to many happy guests who gathered to enjoy laughter, music, drinks, food and his and each other’s company, his family said.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother-in-law, Andrew Passidomo; his uncle through marriage, Anthony Campagnola; cousins; and scores of nieces and nephews living in various parts of the United States, Pakistan, Ireland, Dubai, Thailand, Italy and Switzerland. He still has friends living in India and Pakistan and was in frequent contact with them.
He was buried in Southampton Cemetery with a religious service and honored later at his home with a festive celebration. Many friends and family came to enjoy his memory. He led a vibrant productive life, had no regrets and was always an optimist, his family said, noting that friends, family and his wife will miss him dearly.
His family expressed thanks to friends and family who offered kindness and support in his later years.
“May he rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon him,” his family said.
Staff Writer on May 6, 2024