Francois Mansour Asmar, 79, of Columbia, died Sunday, June 25, 2023. Born December 18, 1943, in Damascus, Syria, he was the son of the late Mansour Asmar and Olga Zaaroura Asmar. Francois was a loving husband, father, jedo (grandfather), and friend to many. He was profoundly proud of his Lebanese roots and his Maronite Church.
Francois began his career with Czech Airlines where he met his wife, Martina Vlasakova. They married on April 8, 1972, in Prague, Czech Republic, and immigrated to the United States in 1989, where they lived in Columbus, GA. Francois and his family relocated to Columbia in 1995, where he was the owner and operator of Oxford Street Fine Men's Clothing. Francois was a parishioner at The Basilica of St. Peter in Columbia.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Martina Asmar; son, Mansour Asmar (Elizabeth) of Detroit, MI; daughters, Dominique Farraj (Rabbi) of Chicago, IL, and Nancy Trimboli (Anthony, Jr.) of Memphis, TN; grandsons, Evan Asmar, Sebastian Asmar, Luca Trimboli, and Dominik Trimboli, as well as his granddaughters, Gabriella and Giuliana Farraj. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Samira Sheranian.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Asmar will be held at 11 o'clock, Friday, June 30th at The Basilica of Saint Peter, 1529 Assembly St, Columbia, SC. Final Commendation and Farewell Prayers will be held privately.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o'clock, Thursday, June 29th at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or by visiting Stjude.org.