Sarkis Chalaby, Longtime Boothbay Resident, Dies at 90

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Sarkis Chalaby, an Assyrian immigrant who lived in the Boothbay region of Maine for over 40 years, passed away on January 18, 2026 at the age of 90. Chalaby, also known as Sargon to his family, was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1936 and moved to the United States in 1959, eventually settling in Boothbay in 1972 with his wife Minerva and their two sons.

Why it matters

Chalaby's story reflects the experiences of many immigrants who came to the United States seeking new opportunities, and his long tenure in the Boothbay community highlights the enduring bonds that can form between newcomers and their local communities.

The details

After graduating from Baghdad College in 1954, Chalaby worked for an oil company and the American Embassy in Baghdad before leaving Iraq in 1959 due to the political upheaval. He then settled in the Connecticut/New York area, where he met his wife Minerva, a Boothbay native, through an international pen pal program. The couple married in 1963 and had two sons, Daniel and Nathan. In 1972, the family moved to Boothbay, where Chalaby worked a variety of jobs over the years, including at the local high school, YMCA, and Spruce Point Inn. He was known for riding his moped 'Fred' around the harbor and attending the Boothbay Baptist Church.

• Sarkis Chalaby was born on January 25, 1936 in Baghdad, Iraq.
• Chalaby graduated from Baghdad College in 1954.
• Chalaby moved to the United States in 1959 and settled in the Connecticut/New York area.
• Chalaby married Minerva Townsend of Boothbay, Maine in 1963.
• Chalaby and his family moved to Boothbay, Maine in 1972.