Fahed Ayed Hattar, 81, a Town of LaGrange resident since 1993, died at St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie with his family by his side, on Thursday, June 10, 2010 following a two year battle with lymphoma.
Born in Jordan on February 24, 1929, he was son of the late Ayed and Fadieh Nassar Hattar. For many years, Fahed taught along with the Franciscan Friars of Jerusalem. He married Rifah Hattar in 1952. In 1956, he emigrated to the United States and lived in Yonkers for 32 years. While a Yonkers resident, Fahed became a leader of the Arab-American Community. One of four original Jordanian immigrants, Fahed helped bring more than 250 families from Jordan to Yonkers, and assisted many of them with finding jobs at Stewart Stamping Corporation, where in 1991 he retired as a foreman after 30 years of dedicated service. He was a long time member of St. Mary's-Immaculate Conception Church in Yonkers and had a passion for gardening.
He is survived by his wife Rifah at home; his son, Hani Hattar, daughter, Hilda Cozza & her husband Dario Vincent of Wappingers Falls; son, Henry Hattar & his wife Angelika of Wappingers Falls; daughter, Susan Haddad & her husband Nithal of Hopewell Junction; son, Dr. Thomas Hattar & his wife Dr. Jeanine Werner of Annapolis, MD; son, Joseph Hattar of Poughkeepsie; son, Michael Hattar & his wife Helen Miello of Wappingers Falls; grandchildren, Richard, Angelina, Tanja, Sandra, William, Michael, Kristen, Rebecca, Mitchell, Jacqueline, Christopher, and Alec; his brother, Farah Hattar & his wife Mariam of Yonkers; his sisters, Evon Saman & her husband Victor of Jordan and Tereze Hassan of Yonkers; also many nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends.
Fahed was predeceased by his son William Hattar in 2009 and his brother Hanna Hattar.
Calling hours will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, followed by interment at Hopewell Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2678 South Road, Suite 102, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.