George Hashim

George Joseph Hashim

1918-2012 PITTSFIELD Dr. George Joseph Hashim, 94, of 790 West Street, Pittsfield, died peacefully at Sugar Hill in Dalton on November 13.

He was born on September 1, 1918, in Fall River, the youngest and last surviving of nine children born to David and Rafka Hashim of Aley, Lebanon. He was predeceased by siblings Freida, Michael, Joseph, Emma, Evelyn, Edma, Catherine, and Elias. He spent most of his life in Pittsfield, attending Pomeroy Elementary School and graduating from Pittsfield High School in 1935. He also attended Williston Academy. He was the first of his family to attend college, receiving his BA from the University of Vermont and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from St. Louis University. He was an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves.

It was while he was studying dentistry in St. Louis that he met June Frank, who was attending nursing school at Washington University. They married in 1945. Dr. Hashim ran a thriving dental practice on 207 First Street in Pittsfield for 45 years, retiring in 1991. He took great pride in his work, had real passion for his profession, and had an incomparable work ethic.

Dr. Hashim loved living in Pittsfield. As a child, he lived with his parents and siblings above Hashim's grocery store on W. Housatonic Street, and, pulling a small cart, delivered orders that were placed by telephone (the best customers spent $20 a month on groceries, he once said). His favorite view was of Onota Lake on its West Street side, and in 1959 he was able to build his dream home there. He was a member of South Congregational Church, the Kiwanis Club, enjoyed hunting and became an avid painter. He also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and had visited Europe a number of times. He was an accomplished businessman and also enjoyed working with commercial real estate. A second home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, provided him and his wife with many enjoyable winters where he grew bananas and lemons and would often marvel at the fish that their grandchildren would catch off of the dock on the property.

He leaves his wife, June, his daughter Diane Glynn of Louisville, Ky., and his sons Dr. George Hashim Jr. of Carlsbad, Calif., Dr. James Hashim of Pittsfield, and John Hashim of Kirkland, Wash.

His youngest daughter Susan passed away in 1989.

He also leaves five grandchildren, Dr. Brian Hashim, Dr. Rebecca Hashim, Dr. Jeffrey Hashim, Christopher Hashim, and Rachel Hashim.

FUNERAL NOTICE: A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Dery Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to either the Shriner s Hospital for Children or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, in care of the funeral home at 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield.