Yusef Hakimian, a former St. Louisan who was a past president of the St. Louis Jewish Light Board of Trustees, a former chairman of the Missouri-Southern Illinois Regional Advisory Board of the Anti-Defamation League and a past president of Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel Congregation (now Kol Rinah), died Saturday, Nov. 8, in Jerusalem, where he and his wife moved in 1998. He was 82. He died of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, according to his widow. The Hakimians also had a residence in Great Neck, N.Y.

Mr. Hakimian was born in 1932 in Mashad, Iran, the son of Miriam and Ahron Hakimian. In 1953, he moved to St. Louis. He was a graduate of Washington University with a bachelor’s of science degree and of the University of Iowa with a master’s degree in civil and hydraulic engineering.

He was the president and chief executive officer of Hakimian Co., a division of Impex Corp., a U.S. corporation active in wholesale and retail distribution of handmade rugs to major department stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Colorado, Virginia, New York and Missouri, as well as to designers, architects and furniture stores in many parts of the country.

In addition to having served as president of the Light board in 1986 and 1987, Mr. Hakimian served as treasurer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, as a member of the United Jewish Appeal National Campaign Cabinet and as an associate member of the National Commission of the ADL. He was also a member of the Jewish Federation Budget Committee and a former board member of the Urban League of St. Louis.

In all of his community activities, Mr. Hakimian was admired for his keen intellect, his knowledge of the Middle East, and for working with other board members to improve the efficiency and financial management of the various organizations in which he was active.

In Israel, Mr. Hakimian was active with the Bible Lands Museum, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and Congregation Ramot Zion.

Michael Newmark, also a past president of the Light board as well as of the JCRC and the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, was a good friend of Mr. Hakimian for more 50 years. The two met as students at Washington University.

“Yusef was in many respects a citizen of the world,” Newmark said. “As a Persian Jew, he grew up and lived in Iran and worked in many other countries, including Arab nations and of course the United States and Israel.”

Newmark said Mr. Hakimian “brought his worldly knowledge and understanding” to his work with the Jewish Light, the JCRC and ADL.

Native St. Louisan David Makovsky of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a nephew of Mr. Hakimian, said of his uncle: “He was a giant of a man. He played a big role in our lives growing up in St. Louis and beyond. His love of family and Israel was extraordinary. It guided his entire life.” 

Mr. Hakimian was married to Leah Elbaum Hakimian, a former associate executive director of the Central Agency for Jewish Education.

In addition to his wife of 53 years, Mr. Hakimian is survived by their four daughters, Rina Hakimian of Rockville, Md.; Debra Hakimian (Elliot Cohen) of Raanana, Israel; Karen Hakimian (Ram Orzach) of Detroit, Mich.; and Dr. Aliza Hakimian (Ziv Pergamen) of Tel Aviv, Israel; along with 10 grandchildren and a new great-grandchild.

Funeral services and burial for Mr. Hakimian were held at the Mount of Olives Cemetery in Jerusalem, where Rabbi Josh Boretsky, former Aish HaTorah rabbi in St. Louis, officiated.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Hakimian’s memory may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice or to the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem (blmj.org/en/).