Samuel Leon Hakim

Samuel Leon Hakim's last act came on October 24 at the age of 94. He was a beloved husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather. Sam's family came from Alexandria, Egypt, but he was born in Naples and traveled around the world with his mother Lucie and his father Leon, who worked for Continental Grain. He grew up speaking French and spent his younger years in Vietnam before moving to Montclair, N.J., at age 12. Sam is a veteran who served in the Army and liked to say that he won the Korean War from Europe, where he was posted. After he graduated from Rutgers University, he married his wife Joy in March 1955, and later followed his father into the grain business.

Sam and Joy moved to Virginia Beach in 1959 and he became a stalwart of the local little theater scene, where he was not afraid to chew scenery, if it was required. Highlights included his direction of "Death of a Salesman" and co-starring in "Doubles," a comedy set in a tennis locker room that featured a lot of complaining and, believe it or not, brief nudity when a co-star's towel dropped. (This seemed especially scandalous during Sunday matinees.) Sam also directed the first local production of "A Few Good Men" in 1994, which The Pilot called "a tale told well, marked by convincing performances and tightly paced production."

Sam and his many friends from the theater and other walks of life liked to play charades and prank each other and generally have a good time. They also competed fiercely for theatrical awards from Port Folio magazine. Sam toted his best actor award, a framed paper maché of a theatrical mask, until long after the mask's nose had caved in and Port Folio had ceased publication.

He had other interests. He loved to sing opera - "Nessun Dorma" and "The Impossible Dream" were among his standards in the shower. He also loved to cook and played tennis as long as his knees held out. He enjoyed unwinding with a Dewars and soda, on the rocks with a shave of lemon, while watching "Mash." (Before "Mash" it was "The Dick Van Dyke Show.") He had some core beliefs. There were not "three tenors," but only oneâ€"Pavarotti, who Sam kept a large poster of behind his desk. Anything on MTV was dismissed as "acid rock." The funniest movie he ever saw was "The Producers" until "My Cousin Vinny" came along.

He is survived by his wife Joy and his three children, Ellen, Jeff and Danny, as well as five grandchildren he treasured: Natalie, Sam, Casey, Eli and Miriam. His first great grandchild, Raphael, was born this year. He was predeceased by his brother Victor and his sister May. Sam's last days were spent with his children and wife listening to Pavarotti and classic Broadway showtunes. He could no longer use his voice, but like any thespian playing out his closing scene, his eyebrows remained expressive to the end. He is already missed.