Obituary

Nassim “Sam” Helou was born September 6 th , 1948, in Bazoun, Lebanon to his

parents Youssef Namie Helou and Alice Antonious Hafez.

He grew up in Tripoli, Lebanon with his four brothers and sisters: Vera, Aziz, Claire

and Khalil. He immigrated to the United States from Lebanon at age 18 and

attended Portland State University where he met his first wife, Sylvia Cusick. Sam

was married for 13 years to Sylvia, with whom he had five children: Laurel, Julie,

Joseph, Nassim, and Charlene.

Following his divorce in 1982, Sam met and fell in love with Denise Daily. They were

married until parted by his death. Sam and Denise had two children: Vanessa and

Leila. They lived in Beaverton, Oregon until the late 1990’s when they later moved

to Southern California, and finally, to Nevada.

Sam first came to the United States in the 1966 with $50 in his pocket. He lived with

his Aunt and Uncle Dahour in Portland. His first job was at a cannery in Eastern

Oregon. He later worked for Garret Freightlines as a dock worker before being

promoted to dispatcher.

Sam left Garret Freightlines and started Helou Construction, bootstrapping a

general contractor company and mastering his trade for over thirty years. Whether

it was new construction, a home repair, or remodeling a grand hotel ballroom,

there was no job too large or small, and each was done with exacting care.

In 1998, he moved to El Cajon, California where he continued working in

construction. Sam and Denise then moved to Henderson, Nevada in 2003.

After the September 11 th attacks, Sam wanted to find a way to give back to the

country that had been good to him. He got the opportunity in 2007 to serve for

nearly 18 months alongside the United States Army in Iraq where he worked to

translate important court cases supporting the US war effort. Because he was

fluent in English, Arabic, and French, he was called upon to translate for visiting

dignitaries, including the late Senator John McCain. Sam loved America, what it

stands for, and the opportunities that our country’s freedoms provided him.

Sam and Denise moved to Carson City, Nevada in 2015. As a retiree, Sam took great

joy regularly volunteering at the Ron Wood Family Resource Center, driving truck

for the food bank and helping people access food. He was the consummate

gardener his entire life, and enjoyed cooking and serving people food from him

home country. He was in Carson City until his death on October 22, 2022.

Sam is survived by his wife Denise, and his children Julie, Joseph, Nassim, Charlene,

Vanessa and Leila, as well as his sisters Claire and Vera, and brother Khalil. He is

preceded by his parents, Youssef, and Alice, brother Aziz, and his first-born

daughter Laurel. He leaves behind twenty grandchildren, two great-grandchildren,

and a new great-grandbaby boy arriving in January 2023.

Nassim was a family man to the core and would give the shirt off his back to any

family member who needed it. He enjoyed family gatherings and spending time

with those who close to him. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting

and fishing with friends and family over the course of his life.

He will be missed by the family and friends who loved him greatly.