Haim Bar-Akiva, devoted husband and father of three, passed away on September 4th, 2022, at the age of 92.
Haim Bar-Akiva was born in Haifa in what was then British Mandate Palestine in 1930. His biological mother, Mina, passed away when he was six years old. He would be raised by his father, Ben-Zion, and his stepmother Dvorah. In 1947, Haim joined the Palmach, and fought in the Israeli War of Independence one year later. He would begin his education in Switzerland and later earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Indiana Tech in 1955. He received his U.S. citizenship while working on the Apollo 11 project and returned to Israel in 1970.
On January 5, 1973, he married Margaret Boghossian and over the course of their nearly 50-year marriage, they raised three children: Doron, Michael, and Kareen. The Bar-Akivas moved back to the United States in 1981. After an industrious career as an aerospace engineer he remained very active in retirement with woodworking and construction projects.
Haim was a man of few words, but extraordinary actions. His family always came first, and he tirelessly chauffeured his children from classes to practices to rehearsals, and in their adult life, ensured that they would have whatever they needed. His children and grandchildren inherited his love for soccer and music. His passion for Jewish causes and homeowner rights defined much of his personal and political identity. He was selfless to the umpteenth degree, and derived true pleasure from helping others. Margaret affectionately gave him the nickname אין בעיות (“No problem”) because that was how he would invariably respond to any request.
He is survived by his wife Margaret; his children Doron, Michael, and Kareen; his grandchildren Ayden, Austyn, Ben, and his three siblings and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services and burial are private.