Samir Faraj Khalaf

Samir Faraj Khalaf, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026, just one day shy of his 88th birthday. Born on March 8, 1938, in Baghdad, Iraq, Samir lived a life defined by resilience, generosity, and devotion to his family and community.

In Baghdad, Samir attended medical school for three years before making the courageous decision to build a new life in the United States. After arriving in the U.S., he changed his academic path and pursued engineering, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Akron and later completing his MBA at UCLA.

Shortly before graduating from the University of Akron, Samir accepted a position with CF Braun & Co., a petrochemical engineering firm in California. After completing his degree, he married his beloved wife, Suad, a Lebanese immigrant who came to the United States in 1955, and the couple moved to California where he began his career at the firm. Through dedication and talent, he quickly distinguished himself and became the youngest manager in the company's history.

His entrepreneurial spirit later led him to found Datamation Systems in Dubai in 1976, an early computer services company that helped businesses and government departments in the region transition into the digital age through automation and new technologies. Samir moved there with his family, where they lived for seven years before returning to California in 1984.

Samir will be remembered for his warmth, generosity, and steady presence. Friends and family knew him as someone who was always ready to help, offer guidance, or lend support, and many looked to him as a mentor and father figure.

Above all, family was the center of Samir's life. He shared a loving marriage with his wife, Suad, and was a proud father to his daughters, Laila and Mona. He was also a devoted grandfather to his six grandchildren, who brought him great pride and joy.

Outside of his professional life, Samir enjoyed an active and social lifestyle. He loved tennis, bowling, walking, cycling, and traveling, and he cherished time spent with friends and loved ones.

He is survived by his loving wife, Suad; his daughters, Laila and Mona; his sons-in-law, Ammar Adra and Samir Rizk; his grandchildren, Carina, Lara, Razann, Dylan, Caden, and Roman; his brothers, Husam and Zaher; his sister, Fatin; and many nieces and nephews.

Samir's kindness, wisdom, and steady presence will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

"I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7