A Heartfelt Farewell from Cemil Tugay to Prof. Dr. Emel Tümbay
Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay attended the funeral of Prof. Dr. Emel Tümbay, who had been his professor while he was a student at Ege University’s Faculty of Medicine.
This article was translated automatically from Turkish. Türkçe orijinal ›
Prof. Dr. Emel Tümbay, a retired faculty member of the Department of Medical Microbiology at Ege University’s Faculty of Medicine, who passed away at the age of 84, was laid to rest during a ceremony held at the Muhittin Erel Amphitheater at Ege University’s Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Cemil Tugay, Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and a graduate of Ege University’s Faculty of Medicine, also attended the ceremony as one of Tümbay’s former students. Taking the podium to share his memories and thoughts about his professor, Mayor Tugay said that Tümbay was an unforgettable and unique teacher and scientist.
The ceremony was attended by Prof. Dr. Emel Tümbay’s students, family, and friends, as well as Prof. Dr. Tahir Atik, Deputy Chief of Staff at Ege University’s Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Süleyha Hilmioğlu Polat, retired faculty member of the Department of Medical Microbiology at Ege University’s Faculty of Medicine; Prof. Dr. Yusuf Hakan Abacıoğlu, Rector of İzmir Economy University; and Prof. Dr. Çağrı Büke, Chief Physician at Acıbadem Kent Hospital.
“We Are Emel Tümbay’s Students”
At the ceremony, Mayor Tugay shared his memories of Tümbay, saying, “This is my school. My classmates are here. We are Emel Tümbay’s students. In this auditorium, in this hospital, we didn’t just become doctors; we also learned certain values here. They taught us that being a doctor is not just about treating patients but about preventing people from getting sick in the first place—about preventive medicine, public health, loving one’s country and its people, and treating everyone equally and fairly regardless of their differences. “Ege University School of Medicine is practically a sanctuary for us. We are people with these values ingrained in our very being,” he said.
“She will never die in our hearts”
Expressing that Emel Tümbay was an unforgettable professor, Mayor Tugay said, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Professor Emel. Everyone is sharing the positive impact she left on them and the love they felt for her. Our professor did her part to ensure we became good doctors. Throughout our lives, we will keep her alive in our hearts and minds as a good person, a good scientist, and a teacher. She will never die for us. As long as we exist, she will be with us. Every person we lose leaves a void behind. The void he leaves behind is a great one. He was a one-of-a-kind figure. We have lost many professors. I pray for God’s mercy upon them all. It is our duty not to forget, to always remember, and to strive to pass on what he taught us to others,” he said.
“We will never forget you”
Describing his meeting with Emel Tümbay during his tenure as Mayor of Karşıyaka, Mayor Tugay said, “My professor came with the same energy, positivity, and kindness she had when I was her student. I realized that she had approved of my becoming mayor. To this day, we have worked with a sense of duty to live up to those who raised us, never forgetting what they taught us. We have never betrayed what they taught us, nor have we allowed it to be betrayed. We will continue that struggle. I hope you rest in peace, and I hope that the world and the country you wished to see come to fruition will be realized through the paths paved by the people you raised,” he said.
“My aunt taught me so much”
Ayşe Tümbay, the niece of Prof. Dr. Emel Tümbay, also delivered an emotional speech. Expressing that she had learned many things about life from her aunt, Tümbay said, “My aunt taught me to be moral and honest. She taught me that I should never think in ordinary terms, that I must make good use of the intelligence God has given me, that I must be productive, that I must never tire, and how to love an animal, how to love a person, and how to love and protect a plant. My aunt taught me how to love, how to fall in love, and how to be loyal. She taught me to be grateful and never to give up on the truth I believe in,” he said.
They shared their memories with Tümbay
At the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Süleyha Hilmioğlu Polat, a retired faculty member of the Department of Medical Microbiology at Ege University’s Faculty of Medicine, read the biography of Emel Tümbay, who had virtually dedicated her life to science. Following this, academics—comprising Tümbay’s students and colleagues—shared their memories of her. Prof. Dr. Tahir Atik, Deputy Chief of Staff at Ege University’s Faculty of Medicine, also stated, “I pay my respects to our highly esteemed professor, who laid the foundations of this institution as a faculty member. Although it is sad to bid her farewell into eternity, the values she left behind, the people she touched, and the cornerstones of this institution are invaluable. I hope that all faculty members will have the pride and honor of being able to leave this world in such a way.”
Prof. Dr. Tümbay, who made significant contributions to the fields of medical microbiology and mycology in Turkey, was laid to rest at the Karabağlar Paşaköprü Cemetery following the noon prayer held at the Karşıyaka Bostanlı Beşikçioğlu Mosque.
