Akiva M. Drori

AKIVA MIZRAHI DRORI, 74, passed peacefully on Feb. 10, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Sondra Bridgers Drori; former wife, Barbara Drori; daughter, Dena M Cottle and her husband, Timothy; two sons, Thomas N. Drori and his wife, Gloria, and Daniel E. Drori; stepdaughter, Teresa G. Cole and her husband, James. Akiva's grandchildren are Adrienne N. Cottle, Ashley Cole, Kaia Drori and Kingston Drori. â?¨â?¨Akiva was a former owner of Jerry's Ship Store and retired as a Longshoreman of ILA Local 1624 in 1990. A memorial service will be held on Sunday Feb. 20, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home 601 N. Witchduck Road, VA Beach with visitation to follow Akiva had two sisters, Ahuva Mizrahi Rappaport and Zahava Mizrahi Leon deceased and one brother, Meyer Mizrahi Drori as well as several nieces and nephews all living in or near Haifa, Israel. Akiva was born on September 30, 1936 in Jaffa/Tel Aviv, Israel to his father Hayim Mizrahi and mother, Bracha Mizrahi. He graduated from the Amal School, Tel Aviv and later served in the Israeli Navy. After his Israeli Naval service, he became a Merchant Marine and traveled the world. He settled in Norfolk, VA in 1962, graduated from Norfolk Beauty Academy 1962 and married in 1963. He worked for a construction firm and worked as a multi-lingual Ship Chandler. Became a Longshoreman for the ILA Local 1624 in 1971, in 1977 purchased Jerry's Ship Store and ran the store while continuing to work as a Longshoreman, as well. He sold the store in the late 1980's and retired from his job as a Longshoreman in 1994 and remarried in 1997. Akiva spoke 10 languages and loved to travel to foreign countries. Hobbies were cooking, dancing. He was an avid fan of old/classic films, new films, opera, classical orchestra, jazz, modern and international music. He also volunteered at the Harrison Opera House. Akiva was a very spiritual man that was a member of Beth El Temple and Kingdom Hall/VA Beach Pritchard Rd. He was a friend to all that he met and loved by many. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association.â?¨

Akiva M. Drori

February 10, 2011