Don Aristides Arauz

Don Aristides Araúz, 101 years old, of Augusta, Georgia, passed away on September 17, 2021 after a very long and happy life.

Don was born on April 24, 1920, to Daniel and Amelia Araúz in Alanje, Provincia de Chiriqui, Repulica de Panama. After briefly working as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse, Don worked in management for the United Fruit Company in Puerto Armuelles. He emigrated to the United States in 1956 working as a commercial printer. Teaching himself English, he later entered barber school and spent over 50 years as a Master Barber in both California and Georgia. A long-time resident of Augusta, and owner of O.K. Amigo Barber Shop, Don is known to many as the barber who greeted his clients with “Ok, Amigo!” and a healthy dousing of “cowboy juice.”

Always with a smile on his face, “Papi,” as he’s fondly known, had an infectious laugh and love of life, forever telling jokes and stories of his youth in Panama. A folkloric dancer, he loved dancing and was a sought after dance partner at ACHA functions, dances at his daughters’ colleges, wedding receptions for daughters, nieces, and friends, and many other social functions.
Don was a voracious reader and loved reading anything about history, world cultures, nature, and geography, and, in fact, had an extensive collection from National Geographic Magazine and Atlases spanning decades. His love of nature spilled into his home life as an amateur horticulturist. At one point he had over one-hundred and fifty rose bushes in his front yard and a dozen fruit trees, including figs, pears, peaches, and even a pineapple. He loved the water and would spend countless hours fishing with his children, swimming in the pool, or playing in the ocean waves. In short, he loved life and life loved him.

Don, a loving father and husband, is survived by his wife of the past 51 years, Julia Rosario Araúz and their two children Michelle Araúz and Donna Araúz Leopard; his six children Aristides “Ray” Araúz, Jr., Daniel Joaquin Araúz, George Arturo Araúz, Marta Virginia Araúz Marquez, Ramona Itzel Garcia, and Gilda Araúz Gonzalez from his first wife Gilda Maria Velazquez Sotela (predeceased); his nineteen grandchildren Megan Taylor Denaro, Nicholas Aristides McKeen, Joseph Corsino Denaro, Thomas Lorenzo Denaro, Henry Daniel Denaro, Julia Louise Leopard, Emilia Mary Leopard, David Richard Araúz, Daniel Araúz, Moses Michael Araúz, Amber Ashley Araúz, Javier Joaquin Marquez, Soralla Angelina Marquez, Veronica Isabel Marquez, Matthew G. Garcia, Michael D. Garcia, Brandon Garcia, Gabriel Gonzalez, and Gilda Gulisza Gonzalez; and his twelve great-grandchildren, including Christian Anthony Talior Marquez, Genevieve Marquez, Kenea Marley Marquez, and Victorians Marquez. Don is predeceased by his parents, Daniel and Amelia Araúz, and his siblings Daniel Araúz, Ildaura Maria Araúz, Mito Araúz, and Obdulia Maria Araúz Headrick. He is survived by his brother, Alcibiades Araúz (97 yo), and his sister, Zoila Araúz.


The family requests that all flowers and notes be sent to 1911 Dunham Court, Augusta, Georgia 30906. There will be a Memorial Mass on Saturday, September 25, at noon in the chapel of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, Augusta, Georgia. Donations in memoriam can be made to The National Geographic Society.