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MEET HELEN G. NASSIF


Helen G. Nassif was born in Iowa and grew up in Cedar Rapids where she attended Coe College. Later, she attended George Washington Law School in Washington, D.C. Ms. Nassif remained in Washington and worked as an attorney for the United States government for 32 years. During that time, she developed an interest in real estate and became a builder and developer of commercial properties. She was the first woman in the Washington area to be named to a bank board of directors. She eventually served on the boards of several banks and other organizations.

Ms. Nassif never forgot her roots in Cedar Rapids. Her name is associated with other institutions in the city, including the Nassif Heart Center at St. Luke's Hospital.


"I was deeply impressed with the plans and the architect's drawings for the new YMCA," Ms. Nassif shared in 2002, when the Helen G. Nassif YMCA opened. "To me, it was an instant hit. A new magnificent building designed with real vision; a facility for recreation, in combination with health and education, for all generations, for all seasons. I am delighted for the opportunity to participate in this much-needed facility and for the purpose it serves."