Eileen Mary Hackim

Eileen was the eldest of eleven children, born on May 11th, 1949 to Albert and Marilyn Hackim in San Diego California. At the time, they lived in Lemon Grove, but soon moved to the Britt Scripps House at 4th and Maple. The growing family lived on the second floor, while their father had his medical office on the first floor. After child number 5 was born they moved to Mission Hills. Eileen always had a flair for theatrics, art, storytelling, and language. Starting with tap dance at age 5, she improvised her performance when she forgot the steps. At Grant school, she was moved up a grade because as she would tell you, "I'm a GENIUS”. Eileen would read bedtime stories to her younger siblings from her very own illustrated "books" about "the Adventures of Gunter the Giraffe".

Eileen rarely participated in sports, but she would watch us swim if there was a cute lifeguard. She attended, Roosevelt Junior High and Point Loma High School, after which she went onto USC to major in Anthropology and minor in French.

We remember the late night calls from the dormitory because Eileen had missed Curfew! She loved to have fun and be the "belle of the ball". She was just born 30 years too early... on the edge of the "women's movement" when there were still curfews and you were expected to be a lady, NOT dancing in a mini skirt and Go-Go boots at the Whiskey A-Go-Go.No stopping Eileen...

After college she got into Law School, but decided not to go. She fell in love and married a handsome green-eyed Argentinian rugby player of Italian descent and off she went to Cordoba, Argentina. They opened a dress shop where they designed and fabricated all the clothes for the shop. The timing wasn't the best, as Peron had returned to power. After 3 years she returned to San Diego and left the rugby player behind.

She loved to travel, so she went to work for Eastern Airlines in 1978. Based in San Juan Puerto Rico,then Miami and finally in NYC. During that time she often flew with one or both of her flight attendant sisters, Deborah and Andrea... there are a lot of stories there. While in New York Eileen volunteered with "God's Love We Deliver" with her cousin Michael Naimy to help feed people during the AIDS crisis. In 1989 she joined the picket lines as Eastern was put into Bankruptcy after its purchase by Continental. After that, Eileen gravitated back to retail. Relocating to Philadelphia, then Charleston and finally setting in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In 2012, Eileen suffered a Cardiac Arrest while at work and had a long and difficult recovery as 4 of her sisters took turns and stayed with her for weeks at a time while she recovered. Finally, Eileen moved back to San Diego as it became more difficult for her. Eventually, unable to live independently Eileen moved to St Paul's McColl Nursing Facility charming the wonderful staff there. Her presence in any room or situation was always noticed and now her absence will be felt by many.

Eileen is survived by her family of 3 brothers 7 sisters, numerous nieces and nephews and most entertaining to her, 5 Grand-Nieces.

If you would like to make a donation Eileen's family asks that you make a contribution to ANERA.Org to help feed and care for women and children in dire need. You can find the link in the donations section.