Salem Wadea Akel, age 86, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones on July 20, 2024. Salem was born in Ramallah, Palestine to Wadea N. Akel and Zahieh Rafidi on July 11, 1938. At the age of nine, he moved to the United States with his father, embarking on a new chapter of his life. He graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic High School and soon after joined the Army, serving in Germany with the US Combat Engineers Unit.
After his military service, Salem ventured into entrepreneurship, eventually owning and operating a neighborhood convenience store at the corner of 9th and Liberty. After over ten successful years in the grocery business, he transitioned into real estate, obtaining his license and establishing Duval Realty of Jax. He continued to work in real estate until the age of 69. At that time, his trusted friend and colleague, Glen Hare, took over the business and continued to keep Duval Realty's legacy alive while he officially entered retirement.
Salem's love for his family was unwavering. He leaves behind his cherished wife of 62 years, Siham Musa Akel, and his two daughters, Linda Althouse (Dan) and Marsha Martin (Eric). He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Heather Tadlock (Colin Reynolds), Owen Althouse, Jake Martin, and Luke Martin, along with two great-grandchildren, Cora and Rowan Reynolds (Tadlock). He was preceded in death by his two daughters, Lorraine Tadlock and Sandra Anderson.
Salem had a deep passion for the Jacksonville Jaguars, proudly holding inaugural season tickets and maintaining them for 30 years. Even as his health declined, he continued to renew his tickets every year, including this season, believing he could still attend the games he loved. On September 16, 2012, Salem and Siham celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at EverBank Stadium cheering the Jaguars. Earlier that week, News4Jax honored their journey with a heartfelt morning interview, followed by an encore recognition interview outside EverBank Stadium.
Salem's adventurous spirit was infectious. He loved traveling and never missed an opportunity for a road trip, always choosing scenic routes, especially those that took him through the Great Smoky Mountains. His zest for exploration remained strong despite his declining health. Up until his final hospital stay, he would ask his wife every day, "Where are we going today?"
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 24th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home, located at 4300 Beach Blvd. Funeral services will take place on Thursday, July 25th, at 10:00 AM at St. Matthew's Catholic Church (1773 Blanding Blvd) followed by interment at Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery. In honor of Salem's enduring love for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the family invites attendees to wear Jaguar colors to the services.
Salem Wadea Akel, age 86, of Jacksonville, Florida passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024.
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