Longtime North Central resident Paul S. Hobaica died on Oct. 4 of complications from a fall. He was 93.

He was founder and president of Hobaica Services Inc., formerly Hobaica’s Refrigeration Inc., from its inception in 1952 until 1989 when he sold the company to his sons.

Born in Cuba of Lebanese immigrants, Hobaica moved to Phoenix with his family as a youth. He graduated from St. Mary’s Grade School and High School while selling newspapers in downtown Phoenix. At 18 he joined the Army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and at Normandy Beach during World War II.

After the war he returned home and attended a tech school to learn the refrigeration trade. Hobaica was always an entrepreneur and in 1952, soon after graduating, he opened his own business, Hobaica’s Refrigeration.

Even after his sons took over the business, Hobaica stayed active in the company until just a few years ago.

As his business was growing, so was his family. Hobaica married the love of his life, Elizabeth, the same year he started his new business. They raised seven children.

Hobaica was a devout Catholic and lived his faith in all aspects of his life. He was active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society for more than 65 years and was very involved in the homeless committee in his church.

Services were held Oct. 11 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church.