(Larry Dean Dillard) Fidel Abdel-alim

Fidel Abdel-alim (born Larry Dean Dillard)
June 23, 1940 – August 26, 2026

Fidel Abdel-alim, born Larry Dean Dillard, passed away on August 26, 2026, in Topeka, Kansas, the city he called home for all of his 86 years.

He was born on June 23, 1940, in Topeka to Albert Dillard and Willa Mae Green Maden (Fisher), who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his younger brother, William Oliver Dillard. He is survived by his older brother, Irvin Dillard.

A naturally gifted basketball player, Fidel starred for Topeka High School and was recruited by legendary coach Ted Owens to play for the University of Kansas. He chose instead to attend Pittsburgh State University before later enrolling at Washburn University, where he studied Sociology. It was at Washburn that he was first introduced to Islam — a moment that would come to define the rest of his life.

Drawn to the Nation of Islam's message of Black pride, economic self-reliance, and discipline, he joined Muhammad's Temple No. 30 in Kansas City, Missouri, in the late 1970s and became a member of the Fruit of Islam (FOI). It was during this time that he adopted the name Fidel Abdel-alim, and he carried that faith and its principles with him for the remainder of his life.

From 1972 to 1974, Fidel served as a security guard at Topeka High School, where he had a profound and lasting effect on the young people he watched over — many of whom remembered him for decades after.

Fidel was, above all, an entrepreneur and a builder of community. In 1979, he opened the Catch Restaurant, which he operated for more than 30 years until its closing in 2012. Known throughout the community as the "Fish Doctah," Fidel was widely regarded as the maker of the best fish in the Midwest, and the Catch became a gathering place that fed and connected generations of Topekans. He also owned and operated Fidel's Playhouse, a nightclub that gave the community a place to come together and celebrate.

Fidel was a focused and strong-willed man who trusted his own judgment and, once set on a course, was not easily moved from it. That same determination fueled his lifelong mission: improving the condition of the Black community in Topeka, Kansas — a purpose he held close to his heart in everything he built.

Fidel Abdel-alim is survived by his wife, Marva Riddick; his sons, Cedric, Courtney, Osman, Hiram, and Tony; his daughter, Aisha; his brother, Irvin Dillard; and 16 grandchildren who will carry his memory forward.

Janazah Muslim Service
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Prayer: 1:30 PM — Islamic Center of Topeka
Address: 1115 SE 27th St. Topeka, KS 66612

Burial: 2:00 PM — Topeka Cemetery
Address: 1601 SE 10th Ave. Topeka, KS 66607