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Samih K. Farsoun, Ph.D. Dear Friends, Nabeel Abraham I am extremely saddened to hear this. I worked with him numerous times over the years. He was a very courageous and principled person. May God hold him in the palm of His Hand. My hearfelt condolences to the family of Dr. Farsoun. I will remember his kindness during my tenure as curator at the Jersualem Fund, and his great dedication to the cause of Palestine and the work of the Fund. Dagmar Painter We all lost a great man with the passing away of Samih. We'll all miss him dearly. May he rest in peace. Dr. Fatima Badry-Zalami Please convey my condolences from Al Quds to Mrs. Farsoun and to all the family and the greater one in the Jerusalem Fund and in Palestine and the Arab World on the untimely passing of Dr. Samih Farsoun. His work and contribution will forever be a beacon of light for countless generations. May many of our younger generations follow in his path and may his example of hard work and commitment be a source of solace and comfort to his family and to all those who knew and loved him. Dr. Bernard Sabella Samih Farsoun was a thoughtful and delightful Palestinian American, who helped shape the thinking about the lives of people both in America and the Arab World. He sought to deepen understanding of the fundamental issues of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and in the process educated his friends and foes alike. We will miss you Samih. Dr. Mujid Kazimi My first intellectual encounter with the Arab world was through a class with Professor Farsoun my freshmen year of university. So impactful was the class, so inspiring was the professor, it changed the course of my studies. Professor Farsoun went on to tirelessly and selflessly support and sponsor my inquiries, as well as many others, from long talks over academia to offering advice on personal decisions. His dedication and determination was truly influential in the course of my own life in so many different ways and for this I am eternally grateful. My sincere condolences to the family of Dr. Farsoun and all those whose lives he touched. Lias Roman All of Prof. Samih Farsoun's colleagues and students from over his many years of valued service as scholar, teacher, and mentor in American University's Department of Sociology join me in expressing our deep regret at his passing. Heartfelt condolences are extended to Katha and to his entire family and associates throughout the world. Dr. Russell Stone Dr. Farsoun's passing is an immeasurable loss to so many, and he will be remembered with great love and respect. My deepest sympathy to Dr. Farsoun's family and all missing him so much at this time. Quincy Koepf I remember Dr. Farsoun as a young professor when we both taught at the State University of New York, Binghamton. He was a lively and stimulating colleague whose career I followed through the decades and admired his accomplishments in the years after he left SUNY. We will miss his stimulation, humor, and insights. Dr. Don Peretz I am totally shocked. Samih was a friend and colleague in the Academe and a regular guest lecturer in my program. We presented him with the "Distinguished Lecturer Award" a few years ago. I have practically memorized his lecture, including jokes and social/political commentary. What a terrible loss. My most sincere wishes to his wife and to his friends and colleagues at the Fund. Dr. Peter Bechtold With a deep sense of grief and loss we received the sad news of the passing of Dr. Samih Farsoun, who will be best rememberd and honored by keeping with his dedication and legacy to preserve and advance the just and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Shafic Budron Dear Friends, It's 18 years since I was with Dr. Samih Farsoun in person for the last time. At that time I was the chairperson of National Union of Arab Students in Israeli Universities. He hosted me in his apartment in Washington, DC, in addition to me meeting him at the Jerusalem Fund offices. It was interesting to meet Samih, to be impressed by this intellectual person who would do whatever he could in order to encourage Palestinian young generations and students to achieve excellence. It was a part of his willingness to contribute to the Palestinians' nation-building, as a very important tool to achieve historical justice. Samih was not so optimistic, but he saw the potential of the Palestinian people living both in the homeland and in the diaspora. Ameer Makhoul To the Farsoun Family and Friends, The loss of a man like Dr. Farsoun is a loss to all Palestinians at the time we badly need people like him. May he rest in peace. His memory remains eternal. Nora Kort Samih Farsoun will be missed by so many. However, he has left a remarkable legacy in America and the Arab world. Dr. John Esposito My deepsest sympathies go to his family, friends, students and the community of Arab Americans. Samih was a great friend who will be missed. Dr. Rushdi Said We are indeed very sad at the sudden passing away of Dr. Farsoun. He was a close family friend and a mentor to our children, who attended American University. One of them took a course he gave and they all liked him. The foremost problem which occupied his mind was the Palestinian cause, to which he dedicated his articles, books, and life. Our deepest condolences to all, especially Katha and Rouwayda. Sincerely, Dr. Ziad and Mrs. Leila Deeb Please accept my most sincere condolences on the passing of a great scholar, a persistent activist, and a wonderful human being. He will be missed, and his loss will be felt in Palestine as in the U.S. Dr. Hanan Ashrawi Dear Friends: Dr. Farsoun played a critical role in bridging the intellectual and cultural challenges between the Arab world and the US. His scholarship and wry wit, kind spirit and constancy were delightful to me as I found him always ready to share his thoughts and insights. I have always appreciated his wisdom and his willingness to be evocative and responsive. God bless him and his family. Jean AbiNader Dr. Farsoun was a wonderful teacher, scholar and mentor, and an impassioned voice for Palestinian rights. This is a tremendous loss. Condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and former students. Chris Toensing My deepest sympathy with the family. Samih was a great man, a committed Palestinian, a proud Arab and a humane person in heart. We have learned a lot from him during the golden days of the AAUG established by the late EdwardSaid, Ibrahim Abu Lughod and Samih himself. May they all rest in peace. They left a great legacy to cherich, preserve and develop. Abelhamid Siaym I will miss my friend and colleague, Samih. Only a few weeks ago, with our spouses, we ate Mexican food, went to hear Beethoven's Mass, had meza at the Aruris' home, and talked, always talked. I deeply admired the breadth and depth of Samih's knowledge--he could engage in any subject with wisdom and insight. And, I loved his sense of humor--I'll miss his jokes as much as his political acumen. And, for Katha, his lovely wife, my heart goes out to her in this tragedy. Samih was the love of her life. I can only imagine the depth of her pain and sorrow at losing him. Dr. Cheryl Rubenberg I am very saddened to hear this news and would like to express my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. Dr. Farsoun was my first mentor during my studies at American University. His inspiration truly helped mold my current interests and work, and for this I will be forever indebted. He was a wonderful gift to the world of academia and will be greatly missed. His legacy, however, will live on. Roselyn Ramos My heartfelt condolences to Katha, Rudy, and the rest of Samih's family, friends, and associates. Words cannot express the love Samih devoted to the issues and people he cared for. We can all hope for such a meaningful life. He touched the lives of so many people around the world. We all learned from him academically and personally. I hope that in his passing, the legacy of his work and the dreams for peace and understanding that he worked so hard to acheive will inspire others. I will remember him for his unfailing support, kindness and guidance. He was my mentor, teacher, intellectual champion, and most of all a great friend. We are all better for knowing him. Jennifer Harwood, friend and former student I am extremely shocked and saddened to hear about Samih’s passing. He was a friend and incredibly kind; and hugely supportive of Holy Land Studies: A Multidisciplinary Journal I co-founded in the UK. I will miss him dearly. Dr. Nur Masalha With a sense of shock and sadness but also gratitude for a life well lived for his people, I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Samih. We have been the beneficiaries of his scholarship, political vision, and his contributions to the Palestine Center and other institutions through recent decades. May we rededicate ourselves to the critical political vision and the hard work that remains his legacy and our responsibility to carry on. Dr. Donald Wagner I did not personally know Dr. Farsoun, but Aunt Despina was a dear friend of my departed mother. With our deepest regrets to the family from the Khalils and Shamkhanis. Dr. Hanadi Shamkhani My wife and I experienced great shock and overwhelming sadness when we learned of Samih's untimely passing. He still had so much to give. Dr. Farsoun and I were close friends in Beirut and we traveled together to the United States to continue our education. We spent one summer vacation working at a lake resort in Vermont, an experience that still brings back wonderful memories. When Lynn and I married, Samih was one of the few guests at our wedding. Our deepest condolences to Kartha and to all the other members of the Farsoun family from Hani and Lynn Azzam. Hani Azzam Please add my sincerest condolences to those of so many whose lives were touched by Samih Farsoun. A gentleman and a scholar, his was always a positive presence. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to get to know him and work wirh him at The Jerusalem Fund for several years. My heart goes out to his family at this very sad time. Heidi Shoup It is with complete shock and sadness that I hear the news of Professor Farsoun's passing and send my condolences to the Jerusalem Fund and his family. Professor Farsoun was such a kind, decent, positive and visionary person. His legacy lives in the many whom he touched through his great work and good works. George Naggiar, Esq. Samih was a scholar, a patriot, a close friend, and a colleague for nearly thirty years. He has educated a generation of young scholars and diplomats who, I am sure, will carry forward his mission of defending justice in Palestine and solidarity with all the disadvantaged in the world. We grieve his loss and will miss him greatly. Dr. George T. Abed My upmost sincere condolences to the highly repected humanitarian and gentleman Dr. Farsoun and his beloved family. He has left a mark of greatness to mankind! May you, your friends and family be blessed with everlasting love and peace! Heidi Ajlani Our community has lost a great scholar, advocate and faithful friend. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Farsoun, and send my heartfelt condolences to his family. I pray they will have the strength and patience to endure this terrible loss. Dr. Farsoun's enormous contributions to the Palestinian cause will be a lasting tribute and memorial. Ali Abunimah We were very saddened by the sudden departure of Samih. The loss of a committed scholar and a persistent activist is a loss to all of us. Our sole consolation is that he will be long remembered by the legacy he has left. With our deepest sympathies to all the family from all of us here. Hanna & Hala Hallak Samih was a man I greatly admired for his principles, intellect, and integrity. I will miss him this coming weekend. We had greatly looked forward to seeing him at his niece's (our daughter's) high school graduation party. His mark on the world has been huge. Brian Kissman (Brother of Katha) Henriette and I are deeply saddened at the passing of Samih whom we knew since the days of Haifa and then in Beirut. We also know of his many achievements and contributions to the Palestinian cause. Our special heartfelt condolences to Despina and the rest of his family. Dr. Jack Hanania God's Peace and Blessing to the family. LONG LIVE PALESTINE! Asantewaa Nkrumah-Ture Samih's passing is a major loss to the Jerusalem Fund, the Palestinian cause, and to the academic world, in addition to his family and friends. His friedship, wisdom and council will be missed, but his memory will live forever. My condolences go to his family. May he rest in peace. Eid B. Mustafa, M.D. I am greatly distressed, as I am sure all my colleagues at Georgetown's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies are as well, to learn of Samih's untimely death. We have lost yet another of the intellectual pillars of the Arabs, and the Palestinians in particular, at a time when their minds and voices are most needed. I knew Samih for many years and admired his work. His book on the Palestinians is a mainstay of my syllabus on Palestinian politics. I still remember when he visited my seminar on liberal reform in the Arab world and presented a trenchant and brilliant critique of the neoliberal development orthodoxy. We will truly miss him, and I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Dr. Michael Hudson Dr. Samih Farsoun's contributions on the academic and Arab fronts are guideposts for all of us to emulate. His ideas and accomplishments should lead us to learn how to rise to the level of service and commitment which best characterized his life. His passing away is a great loss to his homeland and to the world. God rest his soul. My sincere condolences to his family and to all those whose lives were touched by him. Dr. Souheil E. Elia To Samih's Family and many, many friends - your loss is a personal loss to me. To my dear Samih - I had the privilege to share with you so many things. I shall always respect your progressive ideology, solid commitments and political activism, to defend our national causes and be at the same time a scholar and leader. I'm not sure I will be able to express my deep sorrow for your unexpected loss. Your scholarly credibility, your outspokenness, your generosity toward your friends and students, your sense of humor and your everlasting commitment to the Palestinian cause and to all Arab national causes remained all your life a priority. I need to gather my thoughts to give you some of your dues for the exceptional achievements you contributed to and participated in creating; it is a very long list. May your soul rest in peace, while your friends and admirers will try to continue the difficult path you have followed all your life - that of a militant, a leader and a scholar. May the love of God engulf you. Allah Yirhamak Ya Samih. Dr. Melhem Salman I was deeply saddened to hear of Samih's tragic death. It is with respect and gratitude that I recall how his knowledge, wisdom, and passionate commitment profoundly and indelibly influenced the course of my life and the evolution of my political consciousness, and how they formed a critical part of the foundation that moors the life of our daughter Rouwayda. My heartfelt condolences go out to Samih's wife Katha in her inestimable loss and to his beloved brother David and sisters Regina, Despina, and Samia, who I know will miss him beyond measure. Karen Pfeifer We as Palestinians mourn the loss of this great scholar and Palestinian patriot. May God rest his soul in peace. Ayham and Aida Khleif I had the great honor of working closely with Dr. Farsoun for nearly two years (until Feb. 2005) during the start-up period and first academic year at the American University of Kuwait, where he was the founding Dean of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Farsoun was a great colleague and friend. His passing is a tremendous loss to the Arab world, to the academic community at large, and to me personally. He was an inspiration and a mentor to me in many ways, and will always hold a special place in my heart. He will be greatly missed by all of his friends and colleagues at AUK and in Kuwait. My heart goes out to Katha, his family, and his many friends. Farah Al-Nakib Dr. Farsoun will be remembered with respect and affection. May God rest his soul in peace. Amal Al-Binali We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Samih Farsoun. We extend our prayers and heartfelt condolences to Katha, David and the Farsoun family. May Samih rest in peace. Sami Malak & family Dear Katha and Rudy, With sadness we have heard the news about the sudden death of beloved Samih whom we have briefly met and readily loved as we were visiting him a few years ago in Washington, DC. Life has dealt you a terrible blow which in our faith we can accept with hope remembering that we all are passing through this life to eternity. Our sincerest condolences and may God bless him. Rebecca Chebaya (Tony's sister), Andre Codouni and family Regretfully, Palestine lost another honorable defender. To his surviving family and my boyhood friend, David and his sisters my most sincere condolences. I do share the loss and my thoughts and prayers are with you. May his soul rest in peace. Sincerely, Jack Jacques Yammine With great sorrow and deep sense of loss I have received the news about the passing of my friend Dr. Samih K. Farsoun. I got familiar with him during my fellowship at American University in Washington D.C.2001/2002 and while attending activities at Jerusalem Fund then. I had known him as a sincere Palestinian patriot, a very kind human and a great thoughtful scientist. I send my sincere condolences to Jerusalem Fund's Board of Directors and staff and to Dr. Farsoun's wife Katha, daughter Rouwayda, and surviving family. May his soul go back to his beloved city Haifa! Hazem Shunnar To know Professor Farsoun through his writings, research and lectures is to be at once inspired and informed on a wide range of subjects and from a unique perspective. To know Samih personally is to be very lucky for he was a good friend and mentor in every respect. I was most fortunate because I knew him both as a teacher and friend. I will miss him dearly, as I will always remember and value him, a top scholar, a great professor and, most importantly, a wonderful person. Samih Farsoun, we will not forget you. Christina Zacharia Hawatmeh Words cannot express how sorry I am to hear of Samih's sudden passing. Although I only knew him for a short time, he made a very lasting impression on me and was a remarkable person. Katha and the rest of his family are part of my constant thoughts and prayers. Alex Frigo I am saddened to hear of the death of Samih. I last saw him in 1948 before we left Palestine. My hope was to see him again, but it is too late. My heart goes to his family. Edward and Leila Toubassi Edward Toubassi (cousin) We are so horribly shocked about Samih's passing away unexpectedly. He has been a beam of intellect, knowledge, friendship, love & modesty. He always made you feel very special, young or old. We looked forward to his visits over the years, to listen to his experiences and accomplishments. Such a down to earth person that always brought out the best in people. What an unfair loss. Our deepest condolences to Katha, Rudy & the rest of the family. Your memory will never fade; you will always be in our hearts & prayers. May God hold you tight in his arms & bless your Soul. Rest in Peace, Uncle Samih. We will miss you terribly. Edwin & Paola Jabbour It is a hopeless task to try to express my feelings on the untimely passing of my close friend Samih. He was a great scholar and colleague who earned the respect and admiration of his friends, colleagues and students. His disposition and intellect were an inspiration to all of us. The loss to us at the Jerusalem Fund of this good man is great. We shall sincerely miss him. My family joins me in extending our sincere condolences to his wife Katha, daughter Rouwayda and the rest of his family. It was a great privilege for our family to have known Samih, and we shall miss him very much. Subhi D. Ali, M.D. I am very saddened to hear of his passing away and very much in shock while I write this. It is a loss to all that knew Dr. Farsoun. My heartfelt condolences to Katha and the rest of his family. He was a great friend, mentor and father figure to me. May he rest in peace inshallah. I will miss him very much. Alia El-Assaad It is with great sorrow that I heard of the passing away of Dr. Samih Farsoun. He was a great Palestinian scholar and dedicated defender of Palestinian rights. I met him recently in Kuwait where he was yet again successfully building another academic institution in the Arab world. I owe it to my close friend Dr. Naseer Aruri who introduced me to him. Please convey my condolences to his family and friends. His legacy will remain and he will be remembered by his many friends and students. Dr. Salman Abu Sitta On behalf of the Right of Return coalition in Europe, we would like to send our warm condolences to Sameeh's family and to his friends. We know Sameeh as a pioneer in defending the right of return to Palestinians refugees, and his activities will be always remembered among our network and activists. Our solace is to continue our struggle until achieving our goals of implementing the rights of the dispossessed refugees in their homeland, Palestine. On behalf of ROR Europe, On behalf of El-Bireh Palestine Society we would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family of Dr. Samih Farsoun. May he rest in peace. Samiah Bahhur To the Jerusalem Fund and Dr. Farsoun's dear family members, We send you our sincerest condolences upon the passing of the great researcher, Samih Farsoun, son of the proud and great Haifa, awaiting her salvation. Dr. Farsoun played a vital role in the formation of Palestinian social theory and thought under most difficult circumstances. We are saddened to hear of his passing at such a distance from the beloved country. We share in your sorrows and pray that his memory remains forever in the hearts of his admirers, friends and readers. May God have mercy on his soul. Dr. Johnny Mansour Katha & Rudi, There is nothing to be said that hasn't already. Samih was lovable. We all love him so much. You two are in our thoughts here in Vancouver. You won't be forgotten. We love you Umo, Katha & Rudi. Hayfa Hayfa Abichahine Dear Katha, Please accept our heart felt condolences. Samih's memory will live with us, & his life & works will continue to inspire & enrich his friends & colleagues. Dr. Hani Faris We would like to express our deepest sympathy to Katha, Rudy and the Farsoun family for the sudden passing of our dear cousin Samih. We grew up in Lebanon and our paths were separated when we moved to Canada. We enjoyed his visit when he dropped by Toronto during one of his travels. His passing is a tremendous loss to our family. May God bless his soul. Rest in peace, dear cousin. Tony and Judy Sallal ANERA wishes to express its sincere concolences on the passing of Dr. Samih K. Farsoun. Samih was truly a fine scholar, leader, and gentleman. He contributed greatly to the scholarship on the Middle East. I particularly appreciated his analysis of Palestine and Lebanon. In his role as Dean of Sociology at American University; deanships at the American University of Sharjah and University of Kuwait; and especially his role on the board of the Jerusalem Fund, Samih was a true leader. All of us honor his great contributions in helping each of these institutions grow and become leaders in their respective areas. Samih was a gentleman; always easy to talk to, he brought important insights on all subjects we discussed. Please extend ANERA's and my condolences to Samih's wife Katha, daughter Rouwayda, and surviving family. Sincerly yours, Peter Gubser Dear Samih, Be sure that God is preparing for you a front row seat in heaven. You are a wonderful person, brother, husband and a father. We would have loved to have you around with us for a longer time, but unfortunately, the good dies always young, and that is God's will. Our sincerest condolences to Katha, upon whom the loss must have been tremendous, suddenly missing the love of her life and also to his daughter Ruwaïda, our brother David and our sisters Regina and Despina. God bless, All of my heartfelt condolences to Dr. Farsoun's family and friends. With his passing, the academic community has also suffered a tremendous loss. Yet his relentless energy and dedication survive him for countless years to come. Professor Farsoun was the first to truly instruct me in contemporary Arab studies. His courses at the American University inspired me to seek new ways to counter the "othering" so pervasive throughout human history. Thank you again, Dr. Farsoun for your guidance, insight, and stimulation. Olivia Qusaibaty Samih was my cousin. His stature as a man and his intelligence and compassion were inspirational. Although distance kept us apart for decades, whenever we met, time melted away and we picked up where we’d left off, as if we had not been thousands of miles and years apart. I was delighted and felt privileged to be able to meet with him and Katha several times during the past few years. I feel his loss badly. Samih had a sense of humor that that delighted everyone and offended no-one. His intellect was huge yet he was forever modest. Despite his demanding schedule, he always had time for his family and the wellbeing of his extended family throughout the world were of great importance to him. He went out of his way to help many members of the family over the years - and inspired others. His contribution to the Palestinian cause is, of course, enormous. Very deepest sympathy to Katha and Rudi during your time of sorrow from myself, Jilly and Irene. Our thoughts are with you, and with Regina, Despina, Samia and David and the rest of the family. Your cousin, On behalf of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Democratic Coalition, I would like to send my warm condolences to Samih's wife and all members of his family, and to all of his friends and his comrades in the PDC. Samih's passing is a treendous loss to all Palestinians and Arabs, and to the academic community. Samih was a great scholar, a beeam of intellect and knowledge, a dedicated patriot. Samih earned great respect and admiration of his colleagues, friends and students. Samih, you are a great loss to us in the PDC, here in Palestine and every where all over the world. We will miss you terribly. Tayseer Arouri My deepest sympathies to Katha and her family and to David, Despina, Regina and Samia. May it comfort you to know that my wife and I were so very sorry to hear of your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Samih's accomplishments will endure forever. Adib Farsoun On behalf of Central committee of PPP and all comrades we send our deep condolences to our friend Samih's family. Really we lost a brave friend. Palestinian People's Party I studied with Prof. Farsoun for several years while at AU. His insights proved invaluable and had a major influence on my life and on my perspective. His passing is a loss to the Palestinian people and indeed to all people in general. Michael Webb My dear Katha, Rowayda, Regina, Despina, Samia and David - The sudden and painful passing away of our dear Samih left Nadia and myself stunned. Words to express our sorrow can not be sought; ink dried up in my pen. We share your sorrow with heartfelt agony and distress. "The depth and worthiness of love is only and greatly evidenced on departing" (transliterated from Khalil Gibran's poetry in Arabic). May I also quote the following (from Sir Thomas More) that fit my feeling most and that becomes our irreplaceable Samih: When I remember all To Samih: For when one great scorer comes to write against your name, he marks not that you won or lost but how honorably and greatly you played the game (Grantland Rice). A teacher affects eternity; no one can ever tell where his influence stops (Henry B. Adams). So do the sweet memories we hold of Samih. Dear Katha and Family, We are deeply saddened to hear about Samih's passing. Our prayers are with you during this difficult time. We feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to know Samih. He was truly a unique and interesting spirit and we particularly enjoyed his sense of humor and old world charm. His ability to tell a story was unrivaled. Samih had a wonderful way of connecting with children. In talking with our daughter Maya about Samih the other day, she recalled a wonderful finger trick that he had taught her. Maya was sad to hear about Samih but she commented to us that he must be in heaven now. We all regret that Samih will not have a chance to meet Maya's baby sister Divya. We do cherish Samih's personal and professional relationship with us. With thoughtful prayers and heartfelt condolences, The Tennant Family Ray & Lilly Tennant With great sorrow we share with the family, friends and academic team the loss of the significant professor, Samih K. Farsoun, at a time we need most such open-mindedness among Palesinians working in the American field. We hope that there will be a Palestinain association that adopts his scientific contributions through a rememberance ceremony for him, and we propose our Center to assist in achieving this mission. Again we send our condolences to the family, friend and colleagues of Samih Farsoun. Issam Aruri My deepest condolences to Katha, Rudi, Despina, David, Regina and Samia, as well to the extended Farsoun Family. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless your soul, umo Sameh. Kathy Giannantonio
May you rest in peace! I thank everyone for their wonderful condolences; it is so truly amazing to me how many lives my dad has affected and touched. He will truly live on in all of our memories and in the work we do that he has affected. He was a true blessing and as I have to continue with out him in body he will always and forever be with me in spirit. I will continue in his footsteps in the process of changing the world; as a teacher and in trying to continue to work on peace in the Middle East. Dad you will be sorely missed forever!!! Ala Yerhamack (God Bless You; Rest in Peace). Love, I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of Samih's death and want Katha and Samih's family to know that my thoughts are with them at this terrible time. I have known Samih for several years, but came to know him much better and as a friend when he asked my husband and me to join the faculty at the new American University of Sharjah where he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Samih brought great enthusiasm and boundless energy to the job and he was wonderful to work with. He promoted faculty governance, encouraged faculty scholarship and worked tirelessly to make the arts and sciences the center of the university's academic mission. Back at American University, he took the lead in establishing an Arab Studies program that began in2003 and that I now coodinate. The last time I saw Samiih was a few months ago when he and Katha were in Washington to attend to some personal affairs and they stopped by the Sociology Department to say hello. I asked him if he would agree to serve on an advisory board for Arab Studies that we are planning to put together. He agreed enthusiastically. I never thought that would be the last time I would see him. I know I'm not alone when I say I've lost a wonderful mentor and even greater friend. Mary Ann Fay Dear Katha, I am so saddened by Samih's death. Mary Ann and I were looking forward to your return to Washington and Samih's good fellowship. I will miss his sardonic wit and his passionate commitments that kept all of us honest. Most of all, I'll miss his friendship. My heartfelt condolences. Dr. John Willoughby A CANDLE BLOWN OUT... Rare are the tears in my fathers eyes, and having them fall for a man, to me, it would only mean that this man has deserved perpetuity... the past 5 years were not exactly the easiest in our lives, yet it wasn't till a week ago that I witnessed an emotional--usually ice-calm--father. I did not know why fire was being shot right on top of my head over no worthy reason... he was a caged lion, hurt from within, yet fighting to keep up in pride.... Dear Dr. Samih... I know you not, yet reading what my uncle Naseer wrote as tribute for you I could not avoid sensing the pain of loss and the agony of tolerating the absence. What I hear of you is how bright you were, your vividness, and unsurpassed modesty. Uncle Naseer described you saying: "Samih, your voice expressed the aspirations of the disenfranchised, the oppressed, the marginalized, and the voiceless, whose predicament you presented in ways that few people could." What could I possibly say after that?! ... Today as a Palestinian young I suffer frustration, disappointment and shame. Your loss doesn't make it any easier. Yet when I look at our backyard, in the dark forgotten allies of twisted events of time that formulated our cause and current international status, I only seem to find people like you; people who didn't seek fame or fortune, people who recognized the illusion, and sought the truth, dealt with reality, and appreciated its characters. And I wonder: why is it that I don't find such people today in my generation? In generations preceding me within a decade? Why have we learnt to ignore what could be our guiding torch out of this predicament into which we placed ourselves today? You living thousands of miles away spoke so eloquently of identity.... You had passion created by an undying image of the olive trees terraces sheltering our mountain cliffs, the pine on top, the modest old lady next door, the rousing smell of fresh bread and ardent scent of herbs... today I see youth wasted in coffee shops, naked mountain tops occupied by settlements, great personnel forgotten ignorance, and a sunset behind a concrete wall that rises 9m into the sky... a pretty dark image to be compared with your legacy of humanity. All I can say is, I wish I knew you, I wish you were appreciated better, I hope history was fair for you would have conquered pages of it.... Till truth is set right, till justice is attained, till then, your name will rest in live consciences, in the hearts of those who truly loved you, and in the memories of all of those you touched with your uniqueness nobility, decency, and graciousness.... To a candle blown out, whose light will be missed yet never forgotten.... What a loss to his family and to Palestine. Samih will be missed by all of us who knew him. He was a great man. May God bless his soul. Hanna Nasir To the family, friends and students of Samih Farsoun, please let me join you in expressing my grief when learning of the passing of Dr. Farsoun. I have known Samih since the spring of 1976 when I was a student in a course he taught on Race Relations at American University. As were many students, I sat in awe of Samih. We were impressed not only by his brilliance, but also his eloquence. Through the years, he was a great mentor, teacher and friend and nobody was more honored than I to have him sit on my dissertation committee. Samih is generally known for mentoring students from the Middle East but he also mentored and helped countless American women and men and he definitely raised our consciousness, interest, and awareness of Middle Eastern politics and culture. I think I can say that all of Samih's students are grieving today for we now we have lost a great teacher and a friend. Dr. Elizabeth Jones I was deeply shocked to learn of Samih’s passing, and I offer my heartfelt condolences to Katha and Rudy and all his family and friends. I have not spent time with Samih in the last several years, and I regret this, but I recall many many years of close and productive collaboration with him, starting when he came to American University. Several of us had recently started a new effort to address Middle East political developments and U.S. policy there from a critical and progressive vantage point—the Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP). Samih quickly became part of that collective project, and in August 1973 his first article for MERIP Reports, “The Coming Crisis in Lebanon,” was an uncannily prescient analysis of the crisis that soon tore apart the country. Samih wrote well and spoke well: he was a great teacher not only in the classroom but in the meetings and debates that engaged us. He didn’t limit himself to contributing to our efforts intellectually; Samih would roll up his sleeves and be with us in the late-night sessions typesetting the magazine and sticking the address labels on the covers for mailing. Samih’s keen intelligence and articulate vision, and the perspective he brought from Palestine and Lebanon, enriched our lives immensely. He is irreplaceable. I miss him very much. Joe Stork I have just learned about Professor Farsoun's passing from a former classmate. We both had a graduate Sociology class with Professor Farsoun. I really did not enjoy my experience in graduate school, but I loved Professor Farsoun's class. Professor Farsoun was funny, engaging, and a great person with wonderful ideas. I cannot even express how saddened I am at his passing. I am so sorry that I did not get the chance to tell Professor Farsoun how his class affected me and how great of a teacher he was when he was alive. I will tell him in my prayers. My heart goes out to Katha and Rouwayda. Thank you Katha for opening your home to us and cooking all that wonderful food for us students at the end of the year class we had at your house in Dec 2004. Your husband will be sorely missed. Please take care of yourself and your daughter and know that your husband/father made an impact on countless people. He will be missed and thought of often. Meng He Dear Samih, Just the night before you passed away, I was trying to dig out some information from my dissertation which you graciously chaired. I came across the acknowledgement to my committee which started with “ To Samih Farsoun my chairperson who provided me with valuable advice, input and guidance throughout the research project.” I do not know why I felt a knot in my stomach, and said to myself, on that very night, I wish I had said more. I knew there and then that I had not said enough, but hoped that one day I will make it up to you. I promised myself that, at the first occasion when I see you, I will tell you how thankful I have been for having you as my mentor through the several years that I spent at AU, and that I owe you most of my knowledge in the sociology discipline. I owe you my understanding of global politics, and the intricacies of our Arab world. I owe you my passion for the Palestinian cause and my tolerance about the others and, in particular, sorting out the strife of our beloved Lebanon. I should have said you were to me that treasured encyclopedia of knowledge to whom I could refer whenever I needed an objective opinion. In times of an urgent crisis of information, you were my Google man who always had an answer on some social issue. Above all, I should have said that you were not only my favorite teacher and my mentor, but also a great friend who was dear to all my family members. Samih, many of your friends will recall and count your achievements which are many and of which we are all proud. But you certainly have missed this time. You were not your usual and generous self. You left us too soon, too quickly, without saying goodbye. We were planning a big welcome-back party for you upon your return to DC, with dear Katha. I guess this will not happen now. Having never had the chance to go back to Palestine, your beloved homeland, you chose to rest your soul in the hometown of your beloved wife Katha, among family and friends. Samih, my husband, Edward, and I and all our children are heartbroken. What is left unsaid is more. God rest your soul. Rose Debbas Irene Zalami Richard El-Charif (Shraify) & Family Beverly and I are deeply sadden to hear of the death of Dr. Samih Farsoun. We send Katha, Rouwayda, and his immediate family our sincere condolences. In 1998-99 I served as Head of the Science Programs at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. I worked under Dr. Farsoun, who was the founding Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at that newly established university. I have never met a nicer person. I greatly admired his kindness, work ethics, mentoring, and leadership. He was a close understanding friend for whom I had a deep amount of respect. The world is a better place because of this great man. Ballou Skinner Condolences are posted in the chronological order in which they were received. This webpage was updated during the traditional 40-day period of mourning, however submissions are no longer accepted. For questions or comments about this webpage, contact the Palestine Center by email or telephone (202-338-1290). Photo courtesy of Karla Kissman Madison, sister-in-law of Dr. Farsoun. Last Updated: 18 July 2005, 4:00 p.m. EST |
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Baba (Daddy),