Bassam “Sam” Rifat Eitouni, known for having a witty sense of humor and for his charm, passed away on July 25, 2025 at the age of 90, peacefully at his home, Atria Cinco Ranch in Katy, Texas. His parents were Rifaat and Ibtihaj (nee Hashem) Eitouni, and he was one of nine children to survive to adulthood. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, ex-wife Vivian (nee Antosh), and life-companion Barbara Ann Lalama. He is survived by his two daughters Maesa (Keith) and Rena (Mike), son Hany (Maria), granddaughter Adeline, brothers Oussama and Hisham, sister Fatima, Vivian’s brother Nelson Antosh, and Barbara’s children as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Sam was born in Damacus, Syria and moved to the United States at the age of 20 to attend college where he learned English. Initially, Sam attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College where he entered an “Ugly Man” contest as part of a Homecoming celebration. He grew a scraggly beard, put mud in it, wore torn clothes, and he won the contest! He also attended East Texas State College, where he received Bachelor of Science degrees in Physics and Math in 1962. For a period, Sam lived in Germany with his brothers and traveled home to Damascus to care for his ailing father before returning to the US.

Sam also received an Engineering degree from The University of Houston in 1970. He worked as a Civil/Structural Engineer for nearly 40 years until he retired at the age of 74, and then enjoyed working other jobs and volunteering for an additional 8 years. Sam and Barbara enjoyed watching ducks together and their membership at SourcePoint senior center, where they lived in Delaware, Ohio. Sam was a beloved fixture at SourcePoint. He considered Barbara’s children an important part of his family. Sadly, Barbara passed away in 2016. Then Sam moved to Katy, Texas in 2017 to be closer to two of his children.

Throughout his career, Sam had lived in most states but always had fond memories of Alaska, Ohio, and Texas. He was known for being a generous and giving person, always ready to help others in need, and very proud to be a Shriner and a Mason.

Sam’s volunteer work included The Blood Center in Houston (where he was an apheresis donor with more than 12 gallons of blood donated over his lifetime), hospice volunteer, Meals on Wheels driver, tour leader at SourcePoint senior center in Ohio, and algebra tutor. He particularly enjoyed delivering meals to homebound seniors and would stop to chat with them when he could. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, Sam enjoyed the exercise facilities at SourcePoint and Atria, and had been a weightlifter/bodybuilder in his younger days (lifting weights with the football team while in college). In the ‘90s, he rode his bicycle from Houston to Austin in the MS-150 event with his son and work friends. He also enjoyed camping and hiking with his kids at various Texas parks. He was an avid player in many games including poker, dominos, backgammon, Triominos, Rummikub, and Euchre.

At Atria, Sam generously gave his time by helping wheelchair-bound neighbors get to or from the dining room, taught folks how to play various table games, and served as a Resident Ambassador welcoming new neighbors. For several years he enjoyed singing in the Syncho Singers residents’ choir, too. Recently, he continued to play bingo and considered ‘bingo day’ the best day of the week.

In 1968, Sam married Vivian Joan Antosh of Schulenburg in Houston, Texas. They moved the young family from Houston to Katy in 1978. Life was busy in Katy, with the kids being in activities and going to visit Vivian’s family on many weekends. Sam taught the kids to swim, ride bikes, and fell trees, as he enjoyed being a father.

Simple living, nature, and conservation of goods and finances were some of Sam’s values. He preferred often to repair, re-purpose, or re-use an item creatively, rather than buying new. The children attribute their enjoyment of nature and their ability to conserve resources partly to Sam. He and Vivian always pointed out wildlife during family trips, encouraging them to appreciate the world around them.

In 1972, Sam severely broke his ankle, an injury that led to medical issues later. After his ankle healed, he had difficulty jumping and running. Still, he played tennis with little Maesa, hiked, went for walks, and worked outdoors and in the garage during his spare time, even though his leg swelled.

Sam sometimes worked out-of-state. He enjoyed driving through the nation to other cities and the variety in work and new co-workers, but he did miss the family and looked to work more often in Texas. When engineering contract work became scarce, Sam took odd jobs to provide for the family.

Sam and Vivian divorced in 1999. Sam was working in the Columbus, Ohio area where he soon met Barbara. Since he enjoyed living in the area, he bought a house in Delaware, Ohio in 2006 where he lived until 2017. He became quite active in many interests during his years in Delaware with Barbara.

A conservationist, nature lover, and lifelong learner, the younger Sam enjoyed hunting and fishing, and even took a boating class since he liked the water. In later years, he liked playing pool with friends and kept up with the Houston Rockets and the Houston Astros. Despite all of Sam’s numerous health issues in his later years, he tried to maintain a pleasant disposition and often made others laugh with his jokes or smile at his funny T-shirts. He will be dearly remembered and forever missed.