Azzam Issac Rafidi

5/20/1929 – 8/27/2013

“Andy” Azzam Issac  Rafidi         1929 – 2013

 Born: El Bireh, Ramallah in Palestine on May 20, 1929.

Died: Redding, California, August 27, 2013.

 Azzam, affectionately known as "Andy" was the youngest of four children born to Hilwah and Issac Rafidi. He is survived by his five daughters, Alice, Joyce, Joanie, Sandi and Terri as well as 9 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Andy attended the Friends Quaker School in Ramallah, Palestine in his younger years. As an adolescent, he helped his parents run the family restaurant business and saved enough money to travel to the United States reaching its shores in 1949. His restaurant experience helped him in his later years as Andy was known as an excellent “chef” in his circle of friends and family. While working two full-time jobs to support his family, he would still take the time to bake fresh Arabic bread every Sunday morning before attending his Syrian Orthodox Church in Los Angeles.

Andy was an entrepreneur and purchased his own corner grocery store in Gardena, California, calling it "Rafidi's Market." Later, he opened another store in Redwood City, CA. Prior to his West Coast stores, he had also owned a combo dairy market in Youngstown, Ohio before relocating to LA. Andy moved to Redding and retired in 1985. Since then, Andy spent a lot of his time gardening at his home and has over 30 rose trees of different varieties, and many fruit trees too, where his purple, plump figs were most coveted.

 Andy loved to share his homemade middle-eastern food and the fruits of his labor with his friends, his church and family. He spent a lot of time attending as well as helping the Orthodox churches in the Redding area and at one time was an elder in the church.  In fact, he would love to tell the history of the Orthodox Church and explain many things to new converts. He was revered for his willingness to spread the Word. We will dearly miss our beloved father and grandfather (morfar) - his legacy will always be within our hearts.

              A visitation/viewing will be held at McDonald’s Chapel, 1275 Continental St., Redding, CA 96001 on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Services will be held at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1509 Yuba St., Redding, CA 96001 on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. with graveside to follow at Redding Memorial Park, 1201 Continental St., Redding, CA 96001. A buffet luncheon will immediately follow the burial and will be held at: C.R.Cribbs American Grille Banquet Room at the Best Western Hilltop Inn, 2300 Hilltop Dr., Redding, CA 96002.

 In lieu of flowers, donations by check may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1509 Yuba St., Redding, CA. Please put in the memo line – “In honor of Andy Rafidi.”