New student scholarship established in Faiz A. Oley’s name
VCU School of Pharmacy alumnus G. Joseph Mehfoud (B.S. ’83) has established the Faiz A. Oley Annual Scholarship in honor and memory of his cousin, Faiz A. Oley. Oley, who died May 10, 2013, was well-known as owner of the Westbury Pharmacy and as an active member of the Richmond community.
Mehfoud cited Oley’s generosity in supporting pharmacy students – including himself – as a key motivator in creating this scholarship. Mehfoud, who went on to earn his M.D. degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School, practices internal medicine at Richmond’s Commonwealth Primary Care and serves as medical director for Westport Health Care and Gentiva Hospice.
Oley, a 1966 graduate of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, bought Westbury in 1967 and eventually owned a chain of pharmacies throughout Virginia. He also was an integral part of what has evolved into a three-family pharmacy dynasty. Mehfoud says his uncle Anthony Mehfoud was the first to attend pharmacy school – he graduated from MCV School of Pharmacy in 1939 – and that paved the way for at least 20 to 25 members of the Mehfoud, Oley and Shaia families who have followed in his footsteps as practicing pharmacists.
That includes Faiz A. Oley’s four children: Joseph Oley, Faiz Oley Jr., Sarah Thomas and Helene Koehler, all of whom work or have worked at Westbury.
“I think it’s wonderful [Mehfoud] did this,” said Joseph Oley of the scholarship honoring his father.
“Faiz supported many future pharmacists,” said Mehfoud, “kids who couldn’t afford it. He didn’t make it public, he never advertised. He just helped support their educations.”
Faiz Oley Jr., agrees. “I don’t know how many people our dad put through pharmacy school. He helped so many people. … He was a very benevolent, giving man. He found more joy in giving than anyone else. He found comfort is helping others.
“He might have given it all away if it weren’t for my uncle and mother!” he added with a laugh.
Pharmacy was a calling for his dad, Oley Jr. continued. “He passed on the desire to help sick people and the community, and they remember it. When you see the gratitude from the community and it comes back to you – ‘I can remember when your dad helped me’ – and then they come to you for advice, it makes you feel good.”
Count VCU School of Pharmacy student Matthew Murray of Clarksville among those who appreciate what Oley had to offer. Murray is the first recipient of the new scholarship.
“It is a true honor to receive the Faiz Oley Scholarship,” said Murray. “This gift testifies to the compassion, dedication and loyalty Dr. Mehfoud and the Oley family have shown to the VCU School of Pharmacy and the Richmond pharmacy community. I was thoroughly impressed with the services Westbury Pharmacy provides to its patients.”
Murray, a second-year Pharm.D. student, earned his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Virginia.
“I hope [Murray] goes into independent pharmacy!” Oley Jr. commented with a smile. He recalls having worked at Westbury during high school and college, as did all of his siblings, Mehfoud and other relatives and family friends over the years.
“We were blessed because we got to be around Dad not only as children but in the professional atmosphere. That’s where he shined. He was the ultimate teacher, pharmacist and businessman.”
Completing the family circle, Mary Oley worked as Westbury’s bookkeeper. High-school sweethearts, she and Faiz A. Oley had been married for 46 years when he died at age 70.
“He left us all well off spiritually and emotionally,” said Oley Jr., who gives credit to his father’s faith and strong support system. “My dad would say, ‘I’m the richest guy. I have my wife, four healthy children, 10 grandchildren. God has blessed me with everything I need.”
Thanks to his cousin Joseph Mehfoud, Faiz O. Oley’s legacy should inspire VCU School of Pharmacy students for years to come.
Learn more about Faiz A. Oley and his life.
Categories Alumni news, Student news