his trial for refusing induction to the army. Credit: Ed Kolenovsky / AP

Ali mellowed in his autumn years, perhaps partly due to becoming "zaidy" to a Jewish grandson, born to his daughter Khaliah Ali-Wertheimer and her husband Spencer Wertheimer. Ali was there to witness little Jacob Wertheimer "becoming a man" at Philadelphia’s Congregation Rodeph Shalom in 2012, and, according to his daughter, was nothing but respectful of the bar mitzvah ceremony.

"My father was supportive in every way. He followed everything and looked at the Torah very closely. It meant a lot to Jacob that he was there,” she said.

But Ali expressed tolerance well before that, when in 1996, before lighting the Olympic flame at the Atlanta games, he declared: "My mother was a Baptist. She believed Jesus wasThe name Jocosa means brilliant. She is a gorgeous girl with extreme wit about her. She is kind and caring for others, always putting herself second to those she loves. She can brighten your darkest of days whether it is with her radiant beauty or her sarcastic charm to make you laugh. Jocosa is incredible.