Dawit Haile

Dawit Haile Baykedagn of Portland, Oregon – Mendefera (Adi Ugri), Eritrea – and, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia passed away after a short illness in the early hours of Saturday, 25th March 2023, surrounded by his family.

Dawit was born in Kazanchis, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 19, 1960, to his late parents, Lieutenant General Haile Baykedagn and Ms Alemash Ambaye Woldu. Dawit was raised in Addis Ababa, Harar and Asmara. After the 1973 military coup in Ethiopia by the dictatorship of the Dergue and the assassination of his father (along with 59 other former Imperial Ethiopian Government officials) and the political imprisonment of his mother in 1974, Dawit, along with his twin sister Heriety Haile, fled to Sudan in 1977 as underage refugees. This took them through a difficult and compelling journey of dashed hopes and vulnerabilities, but also of hope and victory when they were finally able to travel to the U.S. and reunite with their eldest sister, Guennet Haile Cook.

Upon arrival in the U.S. he was able to finish his High School education in Oregon and went to Kansas to join Sterling Collage for further studies. He also took ICT training and worked as IT adviser for several years while also operating a taxi business in Los Angeles. He then moved into a large size parking lot management industry where he served as a supervisor in Los Angeles, Portland and Washington DC. He then moved back to Africa and invested in an IT supply business in Nairobi, Kenya. Recently, after inheriting the family property in Addis Ababa, he spent a considerable time working on a property development plan.

To many, Dawit was that helping hand, confidential adviser, support base and one who opened opportunities for many people in the places he worked in. Since he partially moved to Addis Ababa in 2016, he has also been supporting young people, including some relatives, to further their education and pursuit in life. Dawit was also known in the family and among his friends as a person of a strong faith and deep trust in God.

Even though he was still active and vibrant, as of late, he often talked about “slowing down the pace” in life. He ended all employed work and started to do things for himself and travelled widely to Dubai, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Turkey, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Dawit is survived by: Twin sister: Heriety Haile - Sisters: Guennet Cook, Berekti Beyene Johnson, Abinnet Haile and Seblewengel Haile - Brother: Girmay Haile - Nieces: Ruthe Cook, Salam Tessema (with her son Zerai) and Ararat Girmay Haile (with her son Yafet Amegashie) - Nephews: Beyene Johnson (and son Isaac), Nathan Cook (and son Jackson), Alpha Tessema and Haile Girmay Haile. Predeceased by: Brothers Tekle Haile and Kaleab Haile,

Dawit always ended a good conversation by saying: “It is what it is”! He has now joined his Creator and left us with warm and deep memories that will be celebrated by each one of his family members and wide range of friends.

It is what it is!