São Paulo – The businessman Lourenço Chohfi died last Wednesday (18) evening, in São Paulo, of natural causes, at 86 years of age. He was the president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce for two terms (1983/1984 and 1985/1986) and one of the foremost businessmen in the Arab community in Brazil.
The wake takes place this Thursday at the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, São Paulo, and the burial will be held at 4:15 pm, at Consolação Cemetery. The businessman is survived by his wife Beatriz Chohfi, two daughters and one son, Claudia, Tânia and Lourenço Filho, and six grandchildren.
Born on February 13, 1925, Lourenço was a son to Ragueb Chohfi, a Syrian businessman who established the Tecidos Ragueb Chohfi wholesale fabric company. Lourenço started his career in trade as a clerk and store manager on 25 de Março, the most traditional popular shopping street in the city.
Later on, he made director and became the owner of his father’s shop. Under his helm, Tecidos Ragueb Chohfi sold as much as 13 million metres of fabric per month, and had branches in 15 other cities throughout the country.
As of lately, the businessman dedicated himself to family businesses: Sociedade de Armazéns São Lourenço, Lobea Participações, Imobiliária São Lourenço and Ragueb Chohfi Empreendimentos Imobiliários Ltda.
On September 22 last year, Chohfi was paid tribute by the Arab Brazilian Chamber and received the golden keys of the organization for his community work. In addition to running his companies, he was a lifelong councillor to the beneficent home of Sanatório Sírio (the Syrian Sanatorium).
On the occasion, the Arab Brazilian Chamber president, Salim Taufic Schahin, highlighted Chohfi’s importance to the Arab community in Brazil. “A councillor for all moments, an example, a role model, a standard of ethical behavior, the figure of Lourenço Chohfi will remain a reference to all of us for many years to come,” he said.
The Arab Brazilian Chamber issued a letter of condolence over the death of the businessman. Read below:
“With profound grief we inform you of the passing of Mr. Lourenço Chohfi, on January 18, 2012 at 10:00 pm. We express the deep sorrow of all those who integrate the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, especially considering the great man, patriarch, leader, businessman and friend that he was, and the valuable contribution he made as President of this organization (1983-1986), collaborating to the strengthening of relations between Brazil and the Arab countries.”
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
