David Joseph Asfour

David Joseph Asfour died on May 14, 2021 at Country House for Memory Care in Granite Bay, Ca. after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born March 14, 1928 to Nabiha Ghammache Asfour and Jabbour Asfour in Haifa, Palestine, he was one of six children – Adeline, Hind, Haifa, Anton, Maroun –all of whom predeceased him. Joe was the sole remaining member of his family, ready to be their protector until his end.

Schooled in both Haifa and Nazareth, Joe was employed by the Iraq Petroleum Company in Haifa, but left in 1948 to continue employment in Beirut, Lebanon. He later spent four years in Saudi Arabia, returning to Beirut where with friends he opened an insurance and import/export agency. Travelling to New York to establish contacts, he remained and moved to Detroit then San Francisco where he settled, opening his own insurance business, namely Asfour Agencies. He later moved on to San Rafael and continued to serve his clients until his retirement in 1999.

He enjoyed years of golfing in the Reno and Lake Tahoe tournaments and as a member of the Marin Golf and Country Club in Novato, Ca. He was a founder and active member of US OMEN and ANERA, both charities whose purpose was to provide medical and educational needs, as well as improved living and structural needs for people in great need in the Middle East. His years as Director of the U. S. Arab Chamber of Commerce-Pacific in San Francisco provided the travel he loved as his U.S. passport would show.

While many of his cohorts and clients have gone before him, he is survived by his wife of 61 years, Kathy, and his four daughters Karyn (Nick Kambur), Leslie, Gabrielle (Tad Thompson) and Nadine Serrano as well as his six grandchildren, Nico, Alexandra, Dominic, Gabrielle, Savanna and Olivia and many nieces and nephews.

We extend heartfelt thanks to the many people with heart and kindness at Country House, to the individual caregivers, Perry and Jerome, and to the Hospice personell that all took such loving care of our Joe. Their help was immeasurable and will long be remembered.

A Mass will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Roseville, Ca. on June 21, 2021 at 11 am.

ANERA in Washington, D.C. was Joe’s favorite charity, one to which he gave his utmost support in time and interest, serving as director/board member until he was no longer able to do so.