David William Kazzie

David William Kazzie, 89, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2022. He is survived by Leila, his wife of 51 years, son David and daughter Rima, and their families, including his beloved grandchildren Jake, Marisa, and Greyson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Julia and Adele, and a sister who died in infancy. He is also survived by his brothers Farid and Hamid, 27 nieces and nephews, and countless cousins and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Born in the tiny village of Ain Atta, Lebanon in 1932, David immigrated to America at 16 to

join his father. He attended Maury High School in Norfolk, where he became its first state wrestling champion. He joined the U.S. Army in 1953 and did a tour in Korea; there, during a USO event, he met Marilyn Monroe, who kissed him on the cheek, a favorite story of his. He was honorably discharged in 1955 after achieving the rank of Corporal. After leaving the Army, he then spent the next 40 years working for the Virginian Pilot & Ledger Star newspaper, often working the night shift.

In 1970, he married Leila Abouassi, who then moved to the United States with him.

His dream was to move his family to Lebanon but the civil war ultimately made that impossible, and he turned to making their lives in the U.S. the best it could be.

He worked hard all his life, continuing to work part time in a number of jobs after he retired from the newspapers in 1993.

David was a tremendous athlete, ranking among the top amateur handball players in the country in the 1960s and 1970s and participating in the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials in 1960. He continued to run and play racquetball into his 60s.He was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees and over the strong objections of his children, both University of Virginia graduates, Duke basketball.

He was also a mean cook, which was pretty rare for a Lebanese man his age - to steal a line from the Shawshank Redemption - a rock that had no earthly business in a Maine hayfield of old Lebanese men.

He loved the promise of America, he loved getting to know other people and he never knew a stranger. He was kind and generous to a fault and welcomed anyone and everyone into his life. If you met him, an invitation to share a meal in his home would be soon to follow.

Above all else, he loved his family, especially his three grandkids.

Although the last months of his life were not easy due to dementia complications, he had nearly 90 years of good health before that. Not many are that fortunate. He will be missed.

A memorial service will be held in the mausoleum at Westhampton Memorial and Cremation Park, 10000 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday, February 5, at 2:00 pm.