Sasson Havusha, age 78, a resident of Old Orchard Beach, ME, where he lived with his wife, Lynne and extended family in nearby towns, passed away suddenly on May 26 th while tending to the garden plot that they enjoyed in their local community.
Sasson was born on November 10, 1946 in Baghdad, Iraq to Muzli and Eliyahu Havusha. The eldest of three brothers, he was surrounded by generations of family from both his mother’s (Masliyah) and father’s lineage, who thrived in those years despite rising unrest and persecution. In 1951, his family emigrated to Israel via Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, which airlifted more than 120,000 Iraqi Jews to Israel, and eventually established their home outside of Tel Aviv.
His early years and young adulthood in Israel shaped who he was and the values that guided and imbued his life and which he shared readily, steadily, and (and often quietly) with everyone around him: kindness, humility, perseverance, and peace. He cultivated deep and lifelong friendships with his “garin” (Hebrew for "core" or "seed" defining a close-knit group)—who served together in the army during the nation’s defining moments and who maintain an unbreakable bond today and a shared commitment to peace born of the pains of conflict. His "garin” helped build a beautiful and still thriving community (including his brother Moshe’s family) on Kibbutz Erez in Southern Israel. There, he met Lynne, who was doing a stint as a volunteer in the citrus groves in the early 1970s.
In the late 1970s, Lynne and Sasson settled in Swampscott, Massachusetts, where they raised three children in a supportive and loving community, enriched by local family throughout Massachusetts and Maine and anchored by many friendships like those sparked at Cohen Hillel Academy, maintained in family Shabbat groups, and a stream of Israeli visitors. Sasson translated his Masters in Agricultural Economics from Hebrew University into a long and successful career as a software engineer, where he worked on groundbreaking products for healthcare systems. He was energized and inspired by this work, especially about his experiences pioneering new technologies like early forms of artificial intelligence and electronic messaging. He was incredibly dedicated to solving any technical problem and to mentoring new engineers as the field grew quickly. In the past several months, he happily engaged in volunteering his skills to help small nonprofits build their web presence.
Above all, Sasson’s deep love and devotion to family were his light and driving force, most especially Lynne, who was his heartbeat and with whom he shared 50 years of marriage and his children, Nadav, Avital, and Yaniv, who were his greatest purpose. Sasson spent his last years in Old Orchard Beach, where he and Lynne moved to be close to family. The extended family enjoyed many beautiful hours together gathered on the beach and celebrating holidays and milestones. He was mutually beloved and admired by his sisters- and brothers-in law and his nieces, nephews, and grandnieces. Throughout, his roots also remained firmly planted in Israel and extended throughout the world. His connections with his brothers Moshe and Menashe (of blessed memory) and their spouses and children, and his dear cousins in Switzerland, California, New York, and beyond, were eternal and tied him to his family and his history.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Friday, May 30 th at Mt. Sinai Cemetery (159 Hicks St., Portland ME) at 12pm. Memorial observance will be held after the service on Friday afternoon at the Havusha home in Old Orchard Beach, ME. The family will also be receiving guests on Saturday and Sunday between 1pm and 6pm-ish, at the Havusha home.
Contributions in Sasson’s memory may be made to:
Kibbutz Erez in Israel: https://giveback.co.il/project/74934?lang=en.
Please indicate your donation to the new art therapy center in memory of Sasson.
The New American Association in Lynn, MA:
https://naamass.org/how-you-can-help/become-a-donor/.
Please indicate your donation to the client emergency fund in memory of Sasson.