In the early decades of the 20th century, as upheaval swept through the region, Sam’s grandfather became one of the few who escaped. He fled first to Iraq, carrying with him little more than resolve and the hope of safety. Much of his family was not as fortunate, a loss that would quietly shape the generations that followed.
In the 1920s, Sam’s grandfather married and began again, welcoming a son and a daughter into the world. That son, Sam’s father, grew up with an unwavering work ethic and an instinct for enterprise. He built a successful shoe business through skill and perseverance, earning a reputation strong enough to draw the attention of the state. Eventually, the government mandated that his production be seized, a turning point that made it clear their future could no longer be safely built there.
Faced with impossible choices, the family sold what they could and fled to Lebanon, setting their sights on the United States. When the moment finally came to leave, they discovered they were short the cost of a single ticket. Rather than abandon anyone, Sam’s father accepted a loan from the Catholic Church, a gesture of compassion that made the journey possible.
Sam often reflects that his family arrived in America with “ two hundred dollars to our name.” What they did possess, however, was far more enduring: unity, humility, and an unshakable belief that through hard work and integrity, something lasting could be built, again.
