Anchorage, Alaska (KTUU) – Before the invention of television, sliced bread and Mickey Mouse, the owner of the anchorage company, Mousa Obeidi, was born.
On Saturday, Obeidi officially celebrated 100 years during his birthday party, surrounded by family and friends. In person or join digitally from the whole world.
“I feel good, really,” said Obeidi with a smile during his birthday party. “THANKS. Thanks to you all. You know, I feel – I feel different. “
With deep ties within the Anchorage Community, Obeidi remembered the city he called in his home for decades. Although it hasn't always been like this. In fact, Alaska was far from the place where Mousa started life, in the city of Ramallah, located in the West Bank of Palestine under British control.
“A Palestinian immigrant who came to the United States without anything in his pocket, no literacy competence,” said Mousa, Marvat Obeidi. “He abandoned his studies early, and all he wanted to do was to be attached to his family. He made a long trip to the United States. ”
In the 1960s, Mousa moved to the United States, first arriving in New York, and after traveling across the country, Mousa said he had led Arizona to Alaska.
“The guy in Arizona who came here, and he said he bought me a car, a gift,” said Obeidi. “Then he came, after three months, he died here, and he told me how good Alaska was. Then I driven in Alaska, took me 3 days. ”
Certain details of the arrival of Mousa in America have become a little troubled over the years. A family member even said that they did not know what year he arrived.
“He has been in Alaska since then, I think, 63 years old,” said the oldest of Obeidi's grandson, Ray Haj. “Who knows? He gives us years, but we don't really know when he has done things, but we're just going to go with that.”
Whenever its real date of arrival, Mousa has since been occupied in the anchorage community.
In the early years, Mousa spranged while living and selling the art of her car. Finally, he said that he had been able to obtain a loan in small business $ 300,000, allowing him to invest in several different companies over the years.
In 1985, Obeidi launched the company for which he would become known, Alaska Art and Frame Center and the Obeidi Fine Art Gallery. With the help of his children and his family, Obeidi still helps with the company.
“America, they make me completely differently, you know? They take it completely care of me,” said Obeidi. “Then, I build the buildings, then I have many companies. So I have my children here, who have other children here. ”
To say that Obeidi has a large family could be a bit of an understatement, a father of seven children, 20 grandchildren and more than half a dozen great-grandchildren with higher. A family member said he was responsible for American citizenship with more than 200 people.
“It seems that we have more than 270 people,” said the third grandchild of Obeidi, Nisreen Haj. “So it is our contribution to the American population and economy.”
There are many more Obeidi parents abroad, including his wife Nema, who still lives in Ramallah. During the party on Saturday, dozens were present on a zoom call to wish him a happy birthday practically.
Over the years, Mousa has made an impression on countless people, and some say that it was its positivity that has advanced it.
“I do not think I have never seen this man, not high energy, not a positive attitude, not to an attitude and to do and that is why he is still there,” said Ray Haj.
A positivity that infiltrates all aspects of life. Obeidi paid the college studies of each of its 20 grandchildren, helped by other immigrants moving to America and actively serves within the Muslim community in Anchorage.
“The heart of this man is made of gold.” Marvat Obeidi said. “If you look at my grandfather growing up, you would never think he had a penny in his pocket because whenever there was a penny in his pocket, he made sure that he was given to someone else.”
Unfortunately, Obeidi is unable to return to the Middle East due to health complications, but says he came to think of anchorage like his house. In the end, Mousa thanks God, who, according to him, guided him throughout his trip and the generosity of those he met along the way.
“I like the American people,” said Mousa. “They have justice and help people. Everyone helps me. But you know, now I help people. “
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