Our father, Amitai Ben Zvi, was born in New York on March 13, 1943, and grew up at Kibbutz Ein HaShofet. He came to Kibbutz Nir Oz in 1972 following our beloved mother, Miri, of blessed memory. Miri passed away from cancer in 2016. Abba lived in Nir Oz for about fifty years until he was murdered on Saturday, October 7, 2023, during the massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Our father was murdered by despicable Hamas terrorists while he was lying in his bed. His devoted Filipino caregiver, Jimmy Gelienor Pacheco, was kidnapped and taken to Gaza and later released as part of the first hostage deal in November 2023.
Abba was a professional truck driver who traveled the length and breadth of Israel in his truck. We, along with many of the kibbutz’s children, remember with love and longing the long journeys we took with him, sitting beside him high up in the truck’s cab, chatting or simply sitting together in silence, listening to the sound of the engine or to music.
Abba served as a combat soldier in the Paratroopers and the Field Intelligence Corps, and took part in at least four of Israel’s wars, not including this last one. He loved cycling and kept at it as long as he was able to pedal, almost until his final days. Abba loved model trains, and in his later years he would spend hours building tracks, bridges and tunnels.
He was a quiet man who did not speak much, and even less so after he developed Parkinson’s disease. He did not smile often, but when he did, his smile lit up his entire face.
Abba is survived by five children and ten grandchildren, all of whom miss him dearly.
He was 80 years old at the time of his death.
May Amitai’s memory be a blessing.
