Haithem Sarafa ’75 | 2020 Spirit of Blessed Edmund Society
Haithem K. Sarafa was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1957 and immigrated with his Chaldean family to the United States in 1963. He went to Gesu in Detroit, for grade school and attended middle school at St. Michael’s in Southfield, before attending Brother Rice. Haithem Sarafa graduated with highest academic distinction as a member of the Class of 1975. While at Brother Rice, he received a 3-year varsity letter in bowling and won the American Marketing Association Award for Business.
Haithem Sarafa attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and received a BBA in accounting from the Ross School of Business in 1979. He went to work at Bendix Corporation as a staff accountant in 1979 and attended the University of Detroit Law School’s night program along with his father. In 1980, he was admitted to the Ross School of Business MBA program and graduated in 1982 with his MBA in finance. He returned to Bendix Corporation as Director of Management Accounting and managed a staff of 9 people, which consolidated Bendix’s worldwide financial information. He continued his legal education in the evening and received his Juris Doctorate in 1985 specializing in corporate, real estate, and tax law.
While practicing law in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Haithem married his wife, Charlotte, in June of 1986, and is the proud father of three Warrior graduates, Vinnie (2006), Nick (2010), and Andrew (2015).
Mr. Sarafa’s professional career includes service as President of Domino Farms for which he oversaw the construction and leasing of 1 million square feet of office space, a petting zoo, The Frank Lloyd Wright Museum, a classic car collection, expansion of Domino’s Lodge on Drummond Island including a golf course, and many other ventures. Mr. Sarafa was instrumental in resurrecting the Domino’s Farms annual Christmas Light show in 1993 through a charity called Christmas Celebration, which has raised and distributed over $1 million dollars to various 501(c)3 charities in Southeast Michigan. He was named Ann Arbor Ambassador of the Year in 1994. After leaving Domino’s when it was sold in 1994, he then joined his brother, Anmar Sarafa ’78, at an independent investment firm, Zaske, Sarafa, and Associates, which later became Steward Capital Management, specializing in managing money for individuals, pension plans, foundations, and endowments.
In July 2009, Anmar and Haithem opened the historical Frankenmuth Brewery in Frankenmuth, Michigan, which was expanded in 2015 to include a 275-person banquet facility.
Throughout all of his years in business, Haithem always found time and a way to give back to the community and most of all, Brother Rice. He served on the Brother Rice Board of Directors from 1998-2002 and has remained an active member of the Alumni Association for more than 30 years, including serving as the Alumni Association President. Haithem is one of the founding members of Boxing Night, which is the Alumni Association’s largest fundraiser for student scholarships. He was named Brother Rice Alumnus of the Year in 2006 and continues to be supportive of the Alumni Association and school with his time, talents, and treasures.
In addition to his service at Brother Rice, Haithem represents himself and Brother Rice well in the community through service to the Chaldean Community Foundations fundraising committee and as President of the NFWB (North Farmington West Bloomfield) baseball/softball organization for a ten year tenure, in addition to coaching baseball for all three of his sons. Haithem is also supportive of Frankenmuth community charities and plays Santa Claus during Christmas time for various non-profit event
To make a gift in honor of Haithem Sarafa, please use the link below.
