In Memoriam, Mr. Hisham A. Araim

Hisham A. Araim
1933-2007

"In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of beloved husband, adoring father, and visionary businessman Mr. Hisham A. Araim. Mr. Araim was born on October 2, 1933, in Iraq, and passed away at Amman Surgical Hospital in Amman, Jordan, on June 25, 2007 at approximately 1:30 AM.

At the age of 19 Mr. Araim came to the United States and studied at the University of California, Berkley and obtained a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from Heald Engineering College in San Francisco in 1957. He moved to New Orleans and received his Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from Tulane University in 1958.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Araim returned to Iraq and continued his family’s business, which included operating various agencies and distributorships and acting as Senior Advisor for esteemed international companies such as Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, Ford Germany auto division, Allis-Chalmers farm equipment, and Fluor Engineering. In 1966 Mr. Araim inaugurated the first of many amusement parks that he launched throughout Iraq that brought joy and laughter to hundreds of thousands of children. Soon thereafter he opened the first manufacturing plant in the country that produced children’s amusement rides and employed hundreds of people over decades.

Mr. Araim immigrated to the United States in 1978 and made Atlanta his permanent home. He established Universal Investment & Manufacturing Company (UIMCO) headquartered in Atlanta and the company opened three more branch offices in London, Amman, and Baghdad. Mr. Araim held the positions of Vice Chairman and President of Kolpak and McCall commercial refrigerator and freezer manufacturing companies, was a founding member of St. Ives Country Club, and continued his direct involvement in various venture capital and real estate investment companies.

Mr. Araim was a founding member and Chairman of the Arab-American Business & Professional Association, board member of the International Business Association of Georgia, founding member of the Ashford Club, founding member of the St. Ives Country Club, Senior Member of the Atlanta Athletic Club, and member of Rotary International. He was a leader of men and took greatest satisfaction in teaching those who shared his vigor for life and passion for excellence and personal development.

He is survived by his wife Nawal Araim, brothers Farouk and Laith Araim, sister Amal Araim, children Omar Araim, Ramzi Araim, Roxanne Araim-Sullivan, Leheb Araim, Aous Araim, and eleven wonderful grandchildren that he loved so dearly. Too soon we have lost a man of impeccable character and boundless humility, generosity, kindness, humor, and utmost integrity. He will be forever in our hearts and deeply missed by all those who had the pleasure and honor of knowing him.

“To God we belong, and to Him we return”