Samir Attalah, a man of profound faith, relentless work ethic, and infectious spirit, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus, on December 14, 2025. After a courageous two-year battle with cancer, he passed away at the hospice center near his home in Redmond, WA, surrounded by the family he loved so dearly.
Born on May 8, 1955, in Asyut, Egypt, Samir was the third of seven sons born to Thabit and Rachel Attalah. His journey was nothing short of cinematic. After earning a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Cairo, he spent four years in Rome, Italy, balancing the grit of working in a family restaurant with the grace of playing professional soccer for AC Milan Division 2.
In 1978, Samir brought his ambitions to Seattle. He was the definition of “the American Dream” in motion—enrolling in Bible college, working as a janitor, and pulling shifts in construction to send money back to his family in Egypt. Whether he was delivering 200 newspapers a day for the Seattle Times or earning his Master’s in Computer Science from Seattle University, Samir outworked everyone in the room. He proudly became a U.S. citizen in 1981.
While his technical skills were sharp, Samir found his true calling in the late 1980s when he entered the world of Network Marketing as an Amway Independent Business Owner. It was a path that changed many lives—including mine. Samir was the man who first introduced me to Network Marketing, opening a door that would define my own career and perspective on business.
It was through this business that he met the love of his life, Theresa Hanks, in 1992. Together, they didn’t just build a business to the Diamond level; they built a legacy of leadership and hope.
Despite his professional success, Samir’s greatest joys were domestic. He was a devoted husband to Theresa and a proud father to Michael, Angelique (and husband Griffin Bashaw), and Matthew. His heart remained tied to his roots; he was a committed supporter of the Lillian Trasher Orphanage in Asyut, ensuring that children in his hometown had the same opportunities to dream that he did.
Samir leaves behind a legacy of faith, family, and the reminder that with enough “hustle,” any dream is within reach. He will be deeply missed by his family near and far, and the countless individuals he mentored along the way.
