Remembering Las Lomas Student Amir Khakimov

18-year-old Amir Khakimov, a native of Uzbekistan and a student at Las Lomas High School, died Tuesday at John Muir Hospital from complications of bleeding from the brain. 

"It is with extreme sadness that I write this letter to our community to communicate the passing of (Khakimov), wrote Las Lomas High prinicpal Matt Campbell in an email notice to students, parents and staff. "(Amir) suffered from bleeding in the brain.  He was taken to John Muir Hospital and stabilized, but suffered extensive and irreparable damage. While at John Muir, he was supported from a wide array of Las Lomas students and parents. Unfortunately, he passed away last night," Campbell wrote.

"He was a valuable member of our community," Cambell told Walnut Creek Patch on Thursday.  "I know that he will be deeply missed by his friends and his fellow students. Had a great personality and people were drawn to him." 

Khakimov's family came from Uzbekistan in October of 2011, hoping to find a better life for their family. He is survived by his father, Arslanbek Khakimov, mother Djamila, and brothers Akmal and Aziz. 

Khakimov was an enthusiastic member of the wrestling team, Campbell said, and the wrestling community, students and parents, provided him a lot of support during his medical troubles, which he said came on suddenly.

“He definitely brought a lot of life to the program," said John Welch, head coach of the Las Lomas wrestling team. "He was very talented and probably one of the toughest kids I ever met. But he was always one of the most respectful kids I ever coached. … He was very humble, very coachable. If you told him what to do, he’d do it.”

Mike Brazil, the father of Trey Brazil, one of the team captains and one of Amir’s best friends, said Amir and his younger brother Akmal, also a team member, came to their home with Trey frequently to “hang out.” 

“They were both always extremely friendly and Amir would always go out of his way to thank us," Brazil said. "On Trey's birthday this year he had several friends including the two of them. Amir arrived with flowers for Traci (Brazil, Mike Brazil’s wife) and a card and gift for Trey. He said, 'It was tradition to bring a woman flowers.' The card they wrote was the best… It went something like this: ‘If we had American brother you are him. We love you, Trey." 

Brazil added: “He was an amazing kid, and I enjoyed the two years I spent driving him to wrestling tournaments with the other young men.” Campbell said that Khakimov will be remembered for his witty sense of humor and affable, compassionate spirit.   

If you would like to help support the family, you have two options.

• Donations given directly to the bank for the memory of Amir Khakimov:

• Chase Bank:  Account Number: 216696727, Routing Number: 322271627

• If you want to leave your donations at Las Lomas, we will gladly accept your donation in the Main Office.  Please make checks payable to Amir Khakimov.

• A family representative will come to the office to transport donations from the school to Chase Bank.