Son of Sarajevo’s shoe shine legend replaces dad

In this Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, photo shoe shiner Ramiz Hasani waits for customers on the main street in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Ramiz inherited the business from his father, the beloved Uncle Misho, a Sarajevo legend who died beginning of this year after shining people's shoes for over 60 years. At the spot he sat and served his customers, Sarajevans put up a plaque to commemorate Uncle Misho and the mayor referred to him as a 'city symbol'. Ramiz says his father is the only Gypsy he heard of whom a city declared 'honorary citizen', gave him a pension and a small apartment as a gift just for his charm that was putting a smile on people's faces even during the 1992-95 war. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) In this Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, photo shoe shiner Ramiz Hasani waits for customers on the main street in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Ramiz inherited the business from his father, the beloved Uncle Misho, a Sarajevo legend who died beginning of this year after shining people's shoes for over 60 years. At the spot he sat and served his customers, Sarajevans put up a plaque to commemorate Uncle Misho and the mayor referred to him as a 'city symbol'. Ramiz says his father is the only Gypsy he heard of whom a city declared 'honorary citizen', gave him a pension and a small apartment as a gift just for his charm that was putting a smile on people's faces even during the 1992-95 war. (AP Photo/Amel Emric)

By Associated Press January 6, 2015 3 min read

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) – When customers say they’re wearing shoes his dad used to shine, Ramiz Hasani polishes them with special care, and slowly, because for a moment it feels like his old man has been brought back to life.

Husein Hasani – better known as “Uncle Misho” – died one year ago Tuesday at age 83, bequeathing his shoe-shining box to his son. The death of the “city symbol” who charmed generations of Sarajevans over six decades left the city “emptier,” the mayor said back then.

For days, Sarajevans prayed, laid flowers and lit candles around an old pair of shoes and Uncle Misho’s shining box, placed in front of his empty wooden chair.

Uncle Misho offered his services with songs and merry chatter even as sniper fire raged in Sarajevo during Bosnia’s 1992-95 war that killed over 100,000 people.

“To see him sitting and waiting for customers while everything around him was falling apart was a surreal scene,” said Hamid Kajmakovic, 78, a retired economist. “But it gave people strength to endure the horror of the war.”