Atanas “Tony” Salem passed away peacefully on January 18, 2019, at the age of 99. He was born in Jerusalem, Palestine his mother was from the city of Nazareth and his father was an emigrant from Bulgaria. Atanas did well in school and had a knack for languages. He put his talents to work as an interpreter for the British Army during the British mandate in Palestine. In 1948, he fled the war along with his mother, siblings and bother-in-law seeking refuge in Lebanon. His father remained in Jerusalem where he served the Orthodox church. Atanas immigrated to the USA in 1952 with sponsorship from his life-long friend Prof. Morton Smith, then professor of theology at Columbia University who he met in Jerusalem. Upon entry to this country, Atanas decided to change his last name from Madjoucoff to Salem to reflect the city of his birth. He soon moved to Providence, RI and acquired the nickname Tony.
Tony met his wife Lorice during church function at Saint Basil’s church in Central Falls, RI. They married in 1955, and resided in Lincoln, RI for almost 50 years where they raised their three children. He had many friends from his business, Salem Paint Company, which he started in the 1970’s. Tony also had many friends from the neighborhood, and church, Saint Basil the Great in Lincoln, RI.
The couple moved to West Palm Beach, FL in 2014 and was cared for by their daughter, Mimi, who took excellent care of them.
Tony died peacefully at home under hospice care due to natural causes. All remember Tony as kind and peaceful, Christian in faith, and a lifelong learner.
Pre-deceased by father: Theodore Madjoucoff; mother: Nazle Khleif; father in-law: Louis Sayegh; mother in-law: Alma Sayegh; siblings: Rev. Basil Madjoucoff, Maria Schtakleff; brother in-laws: Zacharias Schtakleff, Owen Read; Dr. Louis Sayegh Jr.; nephew: Theodore Schtakleff
Survived by wife: Lorice Sayegh Salem; children and spouse/partner: Mary Salem and Greg Gartner, Theodore Salem and Jane Mosczynski, David Salem; grandchildren: Maximillian Salem, Jenna Salem, Julia Salem, and Thomas Ramsey Salem; sister-in-laws: Leala Read, Janine (Anna) Madjoucoff; brother in-laws: Larry Sayegh, Leroy Sayegh ; nieces: Helen Schtakleff, Kathleen Ballantyne, Carolyne Read Wildman, Maria Madjoucoff; nephews: Costa Schtakleff, John Schtakleff, Michael Read, Michel Schtakleff, Theodore Madjoucoff.
Sympathy cards can be sent to 7629 Hawks Landing Drive West Palm Beach, FL 33412. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kayany Foundation at kayany-foundation.org, or Vitas Community Connections at vitascommunityconnection.org/community-connection
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