We Mourn the Loss of John Ilhan, Founder of Crazy John's

John Ilhan was was the founder of Crazy John's mobile phone stores across Australia. John Ilhan was born in Turkey in 1965 and he opened his first mobile phone store in the Melbourne suburb, Brunswick in 199. The original name of his company was Mobileworld. It wasn't until John began to be a little crazy with his cheap $1 phone sales while his competitors were selling the same phone at $200 was he finally known as Crazy John's. John Ilhan was worth over $300 million dollars and has now left behind his four children, the youngest only 8 months old.

Growing up in the local town of Broadmeadows, John was a generous man. He was given a chance and his sheer determination helped him become the man he was before his tragic death on October 23rd, one day after his interview with Anna Coren on Network Ten's today tonight show on Monday night.

John Ilhan was a healthy man and ambulance officers could not revive him when he collapsed this morning from a suspected heart attack.

Coming from an ethnic background, it was hard to find a job let alone to be given the opportunity to open your own mobile phone store during 1991 in the multicultural suburb of Brunswick. He was a well liked man and gave other ethnic immigrants a chance by proving he could make a difference. John moved to Australia with his family when he was only 5 years old. John Ilhan use to give away free gifts to his customers and worked day and night in his mobile phone store, at times even sleeping on the ground.

He would always aim high and achieve what he aimed for becoming Australia's largest mobile phone retailer after years of work and dedication. His family meant the world to him and John Ilhan lived a happy life until he lost his brother a while ago, where he fell into depression, only to come out better and stronger with constant prayer.

With over 120 stores employing staff in the hundreds John was always helping others out even with his constant charity work and donations.

This is a success story for a young man who put in a lot of hard work to achieve his dreams of becoming a millionaire but at the same time this story was tragic as his life was lost so young early today.

For people of ethnic backgrounds like myself from Broadmeadows, it is day of sadness but sheer determination and anticipation of one day becoming like this young man who paved the way for many others when we are told we can not do it.

It is with great regret and sadness, that I did not know this man personally. May god bless his family and all who were close to him on this tragic day.