Obituary of Teresa C. Hasim

Teresa C. Hasim was born on Tuesday, September 22nd, 1953, at Harlem Hospital in New York City to Frances Holmes and Landrum C. Holmes. She grew up in Astoria, Queens. She attended William Cullen Bryant High School in Woodside, Queens, where she excelled as both a student and an athlete. During her early high school years, she spent her summers learning to play tennis at Astoria Park, which sparked her interest in sports. While in high school, she played basketball, volleyball, became a twirler, and participated in gymnastics. Teresa went on to compete in the Empire State Games, where high schoolers from around the state competed in various athletic events, particularly in gymnastics. She received certificates from the Mayor of New York City, John Lindsay.

With Teresa’s outstanding performance in academics and athletics, she earned membership in the coveted H.ED. Leaders Club. Being an H.ED. Leader and Letterman meant excelling in both academics and athletics, which opened doors to greater opportunities beyond high school. She graduated from William Cullen Bryant High School on June 28th, 1971. Graduating as an H.ED. Leader allowed her to participate in a citywide program called CityCorp, which enabled inner-city high schoolers to forgo college and start at an entry-level position in a Fortune 500 company.

In the summer of 1971, Teresa worked as a secretary at Equitable Life Insurance. After three years at Equitable, she met Alkas M. Hasim, another recipient of the CityCorp opportunity who resided in Brooklyn. After a three-month courtship, they married on July 12, 1974, at City Hall in New York City. Their loving union resulted in the birth of their one and only daughter, Latia Miah Hasim, on June 10th, 1977.

Teresa continued to climb the corporate ladder and received an award for excellence in 1996. After thirty years of service, she had the privilege of early retirement from Equitable Life Insurance, now AXA Financial, in late 2001. During her retirement years, she moved to Hillsville, VA, and spent time traveling with her boyfriend, Dennie Cregger. She spent fourteen years in Hillsville before returning to New York, where she was lovingly cared for by her daughter and her family, as well as her sister, Cynthia Holmes, for the last five years.

Teresa C. Hasim leaves behind her devoted and caring daughter, Latia M. Ortiz; her ever-benevolent son-in-law, Ricardo Ortiz; and doting granddaughters, Keira Miah, Lila Faith, and Savanna Hope. She is also survived by her loving sisters, Cynthia Renee Holmes, Christine Baxter, Patricia Nichols; mother-in-law Monowara Hasim; sister-in-law Kudeza Hasim; brother-in-law Rahim Uddin; sister-in-law Aysa Hasim; and brother-in-law Rohim Hasim. Additionally, she is survived by nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and a host of family and friends.

Teresa was preceded in death by her amazing husband and best friend, Alkas Miah Hasim; her parents, Landrum C. Holmes Sr. and Francis Holmes; her sister, Lisa Holmes; her brother, Landrum C. Holmes Jr.; and in-laws Henrietta Hasim, Abdul Hasim, and their son Jorfor Hasim, as well as nephew Thomas Cantres.