by Joshua Guiterrez, Loomis NewsHamid Noorani, a pioneer of modern Loomis, died Jan. 22 at the age of 82. Thanks to his adept cardiologist, Dr. Daniel Ebenezer, he lived a joyful and productive life despite suffering from congestive heart failure for over 35 years.
The Pakistani-American who founded Homewood Lumber in 1990, was instrumental in forming the South Placer Heritage Foundation and its efforts to restore Lommis’ historic fruit packing shed into the Blue Goose Event Center on Taylor Road. In addition, Hamid guided Homewood Lumber’s support of local schools, youth sports teams, boy scouts and multiple charitable causes.
From his incredibly humble childhood in Bombay, India, to his youth spent in Karachi, Pakistan, Hamid always attempted to better himself and the community in which he lived. The same mindset was true when Hamid cultivated business success in Livermore, Roseville and then Loomis.
“Dad was a seer of potential, a believer in making the possible happen,” said his daughter Mimi Noorani.
Scott Paris, owner of High Hand Nursery, said men like Hamid do not come around very often.
“I don’t believe that we will ever really know the true impact that Hamid had on this community,” Paris said. “He was a kind, gracious, and humble man. He was always a friend. Always willing to help for the greater good. We are a better community because of him. I will truly miss him and his friendship.”
Randy Elder, president of the South Placer Heritage Foundation, said he first met Hamid just as the effort to protect the Blue Goose began around 1995. With Loomis and Placer in desperate need of a large meeting place, Elder said Hamid stepped up in a monumental way.
“Hamid called in all his cards to draft members of the Sacramento region business community, so we could build out was to become the Event Center,” Elder said. “We had 45 days from the construction plans approval date to get the work done for the first Cowpoke Fall Gathering. We had very little money, so Hamid donated much of the building materials we needed to do the job. We finished work on the last possible day, all largely done with donated labor, materials and cash orchestrated by Hamid. The Blue Goose Renovation Project happened only because Hamid was involved in it.”
For Sherrie Edgar of Doupnik Family Leasing, Hamid’s contributions to Loomis were felt both as an engine to Loomis’ economy and as a friend to the family.
“I think Hamid’s biggest contribution to the town of Loomis was starting Homewood Lumber,” Edgar said. “This brought jobs and a tax base to the town, which was important to Loomis at that time. Hamid was a very sincere and thoughtful person, someone the Doupnik Family was proud to call a friend and fellow business owner.”