Amadou Thiam lived the American dream \u2014 and then some. <\/p>\n
The immigrant from C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire worked his way up at a major airline as a flight attendant, purchased a home in South Philadelphia<\/a>, and traveled to exotic locations when his schedule allowed for it. <\/p>\n He danced with friends at Philly\u2019s nightclubs, even crafted a stage name for a yearly drag performance he gave at Voyeur \u2014 \u201cAma-Diva,\u201d a play on his name that Thiam\u2019s loved ones say reflected the 50-year-old\u2019s playfulness and unapologetic charm. <\/p>\n That dream was cut tragically short last month. <\/p>\n A quiet neighborhood of row homes was rattled Nov. 10 when neighbors found Thiam lying naked on the pavement behind his home<\/a> on the 2400 block of Federal Street suffering severe injuries to his face, neck, and body. <\/p>\n He was rushed to a nearby hospital and died from his injuries. <\/p>\n The medical examiner\u2019s office has yet to release the cause and manner of Thiam\u2019s death. But homicide detectives are investigating, and police believe Thiam either fell \u2014 or was thrown \u2014 out of his third-floor window. They have identified two men they believe may have been involved. <\/p>\n It was jarring news for those who knew Thiam, a beloved member of Philadelphia\u2019s flight attendant community who had worked for American Airlines since 2011. <\/p>\n A group of his loved ones gathered at Voyeur on Saturday to memorialize their friend, sipping drinks and sharing stories beneath the shimmering glow of a disco ball. A DJ played soulful dance music. Some of Thiam\u2019s acquaintances, his \u201cchosen family,\u201d donned dresses, high heels, and flashy jewelry. <\/p>\n In the face of tragedy, they were celebrating in style \u2014 the way Thiam would have wanted them to. <\/p>\n \u201cHe was just a happy person, and he took advantage of his environment and did the best with it,\u201d said Barry Rucks, Thiam\u2019s partner of five years. \u201cYou and me take things for granted \u2014 he didn\u2019t take anything for granted.” <\/p>\n Rucks said Thiam started at American Airlines as a baggage claims worker but quickly rose to become one of their \u201cnumber one\u201d flight attendants. <\/p>\n A native French speaker, Thiam worked on international flights to Paris and Zurich, posting photos to social media of the luxury hotels and historic monuments he visited along the way. <\/p>\n It was a life he could have hardly imagined in west Africa, Rucks said, where he was raised alongside nine brothers and sisters. <\/p>\n After getting his American citizenship, Thiam was proud to vote in elections and serve on jury duty, Rucks said. He marveled at the economic opportunity here, and developed an affinity for purchasing lavish clothing items on Amazon when he wasn\u2019t helping siblings out with money. <\/p>\n \u201cHe would never say no to anyone, because he knew how hard it was to be an American,\u201d Rucks said. <\/p>\n Voyeur was a fitting setting for Thiam\u2019s memorial. <\/p>\n