SUMMER 2011 1 IC Newsletter Summer 2011 2 SUMMER 2011 International College

Board of Trustees William H. Turner, Chairman Fouad M. Malouf ’56, Vice Chairman T.M. (Mac) Deford, Treasurer Donald J. Selinger, Assistant Treasurer Note Richard S. Ward, Secretary Anwar Al Mulla ‘63 from the Editor Mohamad S. H. Al-Soleiman ‘59 Mona Bawarshi ‘67 Wael O. Bayazid ‘70 Jonathan (Jon) A. Conner I was visiting a donor, who also hap- Camille Cotran ‘74 pens to be a close friend and IC parent Frederik O. Crawford Walid Daouk ‘76 when we started discussing the reason we Bayard Dodge launched IC’s Partnership for Excellence Ford Fraker Campaign. The reason is very simple: we Peter H. Gerard will not be generating any extra income Amal A. Ghandour Dr. Marwan M. Ghandour ‘63 from our new buildings once completed. Anthony Jones In other words, the student body will not Yusuf A. Kan’an ‘71 increase. We will remain as we are. The Gerrit Keator same number of students will continue enjoying a high quality education only this Peter Kellner time, with state of the art facilities. Burdening current parents with the cost of the Marwan A. Marshi ‘79 Safwan Masri new elementary school was also out of the question. There was only one thing to John G. McCarthy, Jr. do: launch a fundraising campaign. Azmi Mikati My friend was naturally interested. After an elaborate discussion, he generously Mirna B. Noujaim pledged $1m to the campaign. He was obviously intrigued and touched by our ef- Aida Reed (Luce) Ian Reed forts and wanted to help out. His only condition was to remain anonymous. He did Mathew A. Reynolds request, however, that the multipurpose room in the new South Building bear the Talal Shair ‘83 name of a loved relative, an IC alumnus, whom he recently lost. Issam Shammas ‘63 Thank you my dear friend for believing in IC’s mission and contributing so gener- Imad Taher ‘58 Maya Tohme (Nassar) ously to our – to your – campaign. We are depending on you: alumni, parents and friends. This is why we have been Trustees Emeriti travelling all over the world to meet with you. We need you. Makram N. Alamuddin ‘61 In this issue, we bring you the tale of how IC finally found a final home. Some of Khaled Al-Turki ’61 you may remember Meshref and Bshamoun. Do you ever wonder what happened to Dr. Raymond A. Audi Said Darwazah ‘76 them? It was a long journey that finally brought us back to where we belong: Ras Everett Fisher Beirut. There’s no place like home. Thomas Hill And there’s no time like the present. With this new generation of ‘digital natives’ Anne R. Hotchkiss entering our school, the curriculum has been revamped to integrate IT into the Saeb N. Jaroudi ‘47 William H. Kent classrooms. Our students use the latest array of digital media in their studies. In an Robert W. Page ever evolving technological world, our graduates are more than ready to compete in Elie A. Sehnaoui ‘56 any skilled labor market. Our students, after all, are the leaders of tomorrow. Munir H. Shamma’a, M.D. ‘43 As for our environmentally conscious readers, do take the time to look over our Stanley M. Smith fauna and flora plan for the campus. I think you will enjoy it. Barry Zorthian It was a pleasure meeting up with so many alumni, parents and friends in Lebanon Administration and during our travels. I know that you contributed generously because you under- John K. Johnson – President stood that our campaign is necessary and that we have no intention of increasing Mishka M. Mourani – Senior Vice President the number of students or passing on the bill to parents. Peter Gerard – Director of Development, NY Moufid Beydoun – Vice President, Alumni & A special thanks to all who have contributed and made their pledges and who Development believe in IC. Diana Abou Lebdeh – Director, Upper Elementary/Middle, Ain Aar Moufid Beydoun ‘64 Hiba Chaaban – Director, Human Resources Ghandi Fala – Director of Annual Fund & Alumni Affairs Wadad Hoss - Director, Middle School Talal Jundi, Chief Financial Officer Lama Khayr – Director, Pre-School/Lower Vice President for Alumni & Development Elementary, Ain-Aar Julia Kozak - Director, Elementary School Ghada Maalouf – Director, Pre School EDITORIAL TEAM: Lina Mouchantaf – Director, Educational Editor-in-chief: Moufid Beydoun Production coordinator: Sana Yamout Resources Center Paula Mufarrij – Director, Secondary School IC Carnival 2011 photo: Cover Editor/Writer: Reem Haddad Design: Nazha Merabi

SUMMER 2011 3 Contents

Features 4 A Home At Last 6 A Green Concern 8 21st Century Skills: Media Literate Students

Campus News 10 Amis Sports and Music for a good cause 11 IB Art Exhibit 12 Ain Aar Lunch Tournent Les Jours 13 Teacher’s Day 14 Phonathon Ain Aar Student Wins Plumier D’or 15 International Day 16 Art Festival

IC Community 18 The Way Things Were

Development News 20 Dinners and Events 25 The Maher Abdallah Saidi Room IC’s Youngest Donor For comments or Alumni suggestions, email 26 Updates us at rhaddad@ 29 In Memorium ic.edu.lb 30 Thomas C. Schuller, 1917 - 2011

ANNOUNCEMENT

We will be celebrating the: 50th Graduation Anniversary for the graduates of 1961 on Friday, July 15th 25th Graduation Anniversary for the graduates of 1986 on Thursday, July 14th Sponsored by: 10th Graduation Anniversary for the graduates of 2001 on Saturday, July 16th

All reunions will take place at 8pm at IC Martin House Garden.

For tickets/information contact the office of Alumni & Development at: [email protected] Tel./fax: 961 1 367433. 4 SUMMER 2011

A Home At Last

As the sound of bulldozers and construction rate. Moreover, AUB had grown im- firm of Edward Durell Stone was hired. fill the Ras Beirut campus, a silent sigh echoes mensely since the end of WWII and was Stone was making waves in the architec- with it. It’s been a long journey to find a final adding new programs. The university tural world with his use of the “Interna- home for IC. The campus, after all, did not needed its Ras Beirut property back and tional Style” in his designs. He was noted belong to IC but to AUB. Many attempts requested that IC relocate to another for his designs of the Museum of Mod- were made to move and to expand. Each and campus. ern Art in New York City, the Kennedy every one failed. Each and every one was a In the 1950’s a plot of land in Aramoun Center in Washington D.C., the Pepsico disappointment. Still, IC Board, administra- was purchased. But when Schuller took World Headquarters, the University at tion, staff and teachers would not be deterred. over, the search began for a larger plot. Albany campus and Beirut’s very own The search for an expanded and final home Land was still abundant then and a beau- Phoenicia Hotel. for IC continued. tiful spot on the hills in Meshref was the Meanwhile, donations began to come The journey began in the 1950s and saw the perfect spot. The view of the sea and the in – mostly notably from USAID, Dodge leadership of three IC presidents….. surrounding greenery was well worth the Foundation, former AUB president drive from Beirut. Bayard Dodge and Mrs Dewitt Acheson Thomas C. Schuller knew he had three The soliciting of necessary funds began Wallace the co-founder of the Reader’s main issues to focus on as he was formally “in hopes to fulfill great expectations for Digest magazine. inaugurated as the new President of IC in augmenting the already distinguished On October 21, 1971 the Meshref campus May 1961. record of the College, the Trustees have was officially inaugurated. The first was to improve the school’s aca- embarked upon a project to construct a As hundreds of students testified, they demic standards, second was to establish new campus for IC, south of Beirut, where were good days. Unfortunately, they a separate identity from AUB and third additional facilities and the most modern were short lived. Civil war erupted in was to locate a large plot of land to build a equipment may be available,” announced April 1975 and the road to Meshref was new campus for IC. Schuller in 1960. blocked. Still, the administration hoped The student body was growing at a steady The renowned American architectural that by October all would go back to normal. That was not to be. But eventually, even they had to abandon the school “It was a big blow,” recalled Elie Kurban, as militias moved in, looted the school and IC’s former Chief ’s Finacial Officer, who occupied the premises. had joined IC in 1966. “Schuller, espe- cially, took it hard.” A skeletal staff made up of teachers Thomas Weaver, Maurice Dumont and Nimr Ibra- him tried to keep an eye on it by reaching it through another road in the mountains. But eventually, even they had to abandon the school as militias moved in, looted the school and occupied the premises. With a heavy heart, IC administration turned its attention to make place for students in its Ras Beirut campus. Board- ing school was cancelled and the rooms used by boarders turned into classrooms. Other classrooms were rented from the neighboring ACS (American Community School). The new lodgings were thought to be temporary until students return to Meshref. “We kept hoping to move back,” The only remnant of the Bchamoun Campus. The area is currently a construction site said Kurban. “Little did we know that the for a development project. troubles were just only beginning.” SUMMER 2011 5

The Meshref Campus was completely renovated and is now the Hariri Canadian University. The architecture and the landscaping was so well planned that administrators kept the buildings and campus exactly as they were.

Still, IC made another attempt to expand. location would AUB sell the campus? In the late ’70s, IC purchased an aban- Negotiations with AUB began in 2006 doned British Community school in and finally, in 2009, AUB and IC an- Bshamoun. Things were looking up. The nounced the purchase of the Ras Beirut campus was vast and there was ample IC campus. space for children to play. An Olympic The Campaign for Excellence was size swimming pool was donated by Elie launched. Two US architecture firms Sehnaoui ’56. In 1982, on the very day which specialize in designing schools were when the pool was to be inaugurated, commissioned. Flansburgh Associates Israel attacked. The school with its yellow and Ellenzweig Associates Inc, in a joint top seemed to be a special attraction to venture with Khatib and Alami, began aircraft bombers. designing a new elementary school for IC. Once again, another campus was aban- On November 4, 2010 ground was broken doned and students brought back to Ras and construction began. Beirut. “Nothing we did was working “Sometimes the best solution to a problem out,” said Kurban. “It was yet another loss. is right where the search first began,” said It was very frustrating.” IC’s current president, John Johnson. “For By then, Alton Reynolds was IC’s presi- security reasons, the Board decided that it dent and his main job was to keep the would be much better to stay in Ras Bei- school going through a vicious war. Feel- Prime Minister Saeb Salam and Thomas rut. Our new buildings will have the same ings of frustration were running high. Schuller in Meshref in 1969 facilities that we had planned had we gone “In such turbulent times, we have been so elsewhere. And since most of our students overwhelmed with concern for security, tary school students were moved there. live in Beirut and many are within walk- for finances, for providing classrooms Damaged beyond repair, the Bshamoun ing distance from IC, it is an ideal set up.” when damages have occurred and campus- campus was sold in 1990. Yes, he agreed, IC has finally found a es lost...” Reynolds wrote in 1985 in his It soon became clear that the Reynolds home at last. annual letter to graduating seniors. Building had not only become overcrowd- That same year, Meshref was sold and the ed but couldn’t support IC’s revamped state With historical information provided by former British embassy at the Cornishe of the art education. IC still needed to find Howard A. Reed in his “A Brief History of acquired (Reynolds Building). Elemen- a final home. Instead of moving to another The International College.” 6 SUMMER 2011

Mourani talking to students about the different type of trees on campus. A Green Concern

The six fifth graders were concerned. Very Mourani’s advice, they decided to seek concerned. Yes, they agreed that IC needs out Youssef Abi Abdullah, the Director of a new elementary school. But - after much Facilities. He had a list of the plants. research – they concluded that Beirut is an The six marched off to Abi Abdullah’s office. over built city with very few trees and gar- “Oh yes,” he said. “I have the list. Let me dens. So how is it that IC – THEIR school show it to you.” – uprooted some trees during the construc- The students crowded around as Abi tion of the new building? Something had to Abdullah showed them the blueprints of be done about this. the new school and provided them with the And so they set up a meeting with the very important fauna and flora list. school’s Senior Vice President Mishka “I feel better,” said Omar Dandan, 11, in a Mourani, meeting with his group afterwards. Like all “IC has destroyed some trees,” began Nay Lebanese children, Omar has nowhere to play Hachem, 10. “And we are here to see if we after school. Even the empty plot – where he can replant them.” used to play – near his mountain home has For her part, Mourani listened very at- been turned into a construction area. tentively to their worries. It’s true, she “There are hardly any trees left,” agreed replied. Some trees were indeed uprooted Rawad Lakkis, 10. “We’re surrounded with but “those trees were not rare ones,” she buildings.” explained. “They were Ficus trees and grow These were the concerns which spurred the rather quickly.” group to adopt “buildings replacing trees” as Moreover, IC will not only plant new trees their topic for the Primary Years Program once the construction is finished, but will exhibition (PYPX) in June. be adding new kinds of plants. The exhibition marks the last PYP project The students seemed relieved. Upon before fifth graders graduate to middle SUMMER 2011 7 school. Their final project encompasses all NGO willing to donate tree shoots. Parents “There are hardly any the skills they have been learning since got involved and Noor’s mother located trees left, we’re surround- preschool which include research, inquiry, one. The children smiled at the news. Their communication, presentation, social, writ- plan was working. ed with buildings.” ing and IT skills. Every PYPX project “Maybe everyone will do what we’re doing “We google earthed Paris, is required to have a service component. here,” said Omar Anouti, 11. their streets were orga- Fifth graders are divided into groups – with Aboudi Kalo, 10, couldn’t agree more. a mentor (teacher or parent) assigned to “We will be the inspiration for the people nized. It was so different each. Under the theme of “who we are”, the of Beirut,” he said proudly. than Beirut.” groups chose a topic. “My group was interested in the environ- ment,” explained Assil Hachem, the team mentor. “So we went around the city with cameras and took pictures.” For the first time in their eleven years of life, the students really looked at their city. And they saw it as it is: a concrete jungle with little greenery. “We google earthed Paris,” said Noor El Zein, 11. “Their streets were organized. It was so different than Beirut.” It was then that the group turned their attention to IC and made their plan: they were going to set the example by planting potted trees on campus and then replanting them near the new elementary school when finished. Their next search was for an environmental Abi Abdullah showing students the IC Elementary School Planting sheet (see below). 8 SUMMER 2011

21st Century Skills: Media Literate Students

My eight year old daughter came home media paraphernalia is almost sure to the other day and with much excitement invade my home, filled with old fashioned asked to be on Facebook. It’s apparently board games and dollhouses, way before ‘cool’ because it’s the latest talk among she is 18. I’d be lucky if we make it until her little IC classmates. Like many 12. parents brought up in the 80’s, I shelve “There’s no escaping,” said Mahmud her request among the others for i-pads, Shihab, IC’s Educational Technology ipods, iphones, nanos, blackberries, kindle, Program Administrator. “Preschoolers are PlayStations, DS, and every kind of pad coming to school already knowing how out there. I give my usual firm response of to use touch screen devices which are top “When you’re 18”. notch technology. Not only that. But they My daughter grumbles something about are very demanding when it comes to 18 being incredibly old and walks away. I wanting to use IT.” sigh. For I know very well, that the digital Many students in secondary school don’t SUMMER 2011 9 bother with taking notes and simply flu epidemic in 2009 when some classes sun to sun but …. an IT’s job technician take pictures of board notes with their were shut down, teachers depended on is never done. The continuously evolv- blackberries and ‘bbm’ (send) them to each blogs to keep their lessons going). In ing technology means a continuous flow other. the classroom, teachers relied heavily on of new web tools and new IT devices (at They are what are known as “digital na- active boards for their lessons. Students higher costs!) In the works are multi touch tives” – a term coined by Marc Prensky, an responded. interactive white boards, smart tables, 3D educational technology professional - for “Teachers saw the response in their screens and projectors, and many more to babies born in the 90’s when Google was students and began teaching each other as come. first launched. These children have never well,” added Shihab. IC has to keep up. “Students have high heard of a world without internet. The second challenge was integrating IT expectations from us,” said Shihab. Quick to recognize these digital natives in the Lebanese curriculum. The school Apparently, so do my two children at entering schools, education administrators was effectively on its own. Last updated home. Despite my resistance to IT across the globe are rushing to incorpo- by the government in the early 1990’s, devices invading our abode, my little six rate IT into their curriculums. IC is no the Lebanese Curriculum calls for minor year old son challenged me. “How come exception. computer skills and issued a drastically everybody has Wii, iPads and DS and we Last year marks a milestone in the inte- outdated IT book. have none?” he asked. gration of IT into the middle and second- Fortunately, the IB and the French Bac- My lecture about using our imagina- ary schools (IT was already integrated calaureate programs at IC require a heavy tion to play with toys and games falls on in the preschool and elementary school’s IT application in its curriculum. Teachers deaf ears. I suppose it’s time to admit the PYP program since the late 90’s). No in these programs are required to integrate ‘digital nativity’ of my children, and head longer is IT taught as a standalone subject technology quite heavily into their studies. to the nearest IT store. but is used as part of the class subjects. IC took most of these requirements and IC students have become digital media applied them to the Lebanese program as literate - defined as the ability to access, well. understand and participate or create con- “We are preparing our students for the tent using digital media. skills of the 21st century,” said Shihab. Blogs, wikis, podcasts, Google documents, “This is what they need to compete in Office Live, and twitter are only a small the Lebanese and international career part of the long array of web tools at IC markets. Most jobs today require media which promise to make any 70’s and 80’s literate employees. And these are the jobs generation parents shy away. that are highly paid. Our students can fit “We had to reach out to our students,” in anywhere and compete.” said Shihab. “Using IT makes sense to As the saying goes, a man’s work is from them. We cannot change them but we had to find a way to change ourselves. We During the swine flu epidemic in 2009 when some had to incorporate digital media into our curriculum”. classes were shut down, teachers depended on blogs to The first challenge was training hundreds keep their lessons going. of technologically “old” teachers in both Ras Beirut and Ain Aar (“old” defined as anyone born in the pre-internet era or in other words over the age of 20) to use the latest web tools. Workshops and intensive training sessions (on going) were launched on campus. Some teachers were sent to workshops and conferences locally and abroad run by the IB, French Embassy, NESA, ECIS, and many others. Before long, teachers began using the web tools in their classrooms. Over the past three years, they launched their own wikis and blogs posting assignments, comments and suggested links. They expected Power- Point presentations, reports, posters, excel sheets, websites, videos, blogs, podcasts, from their students. Some began ‘tweet- ing’ their students on latest topic issues. Many reading requirements were emailed instead of printed out. (During the swine 10 SUMMER 2011

AMIS perform with only the best musicians. Labban. “It was incredible being part of something Three days of 9am to 6pm rehearsals left this extraordinary,” said Dina Achi. “Hear- students exhausted but wanting more. Eight students travelled to the American ing all the different voices mix together so This is my 3rd year going to this festi- International School of the Hague, to beautifully, especially in the Persian song val,” said Julia Sabra, “and it’s been the participate in the Senior Honor Choir (“Naalah”) made me tear up.” highlight of my secondary school years. To held by AMIS, under the direction of Dr. Hundreds of students from over 40 coun- be surrounded by all these people from all Andre Thomas. The Association of Music tries were selected to participate in this around the world who are just so passion- for International Schools (AMIS) is a year’s festival. The aim is not only to leave ate about music was like a dream. These non-profit organization dedicated to pro- as better musicians but with new friends. trips to AMIS made me realize that what moting music for international students “Everyone speaks a different language, I really wanted to do in university was who have a passion for music and want to but we all understand music,” said Raceel music.”

Sports and Music for a good cause

The Ain Aar Middle School Student Council held an Open House Fundraiser on Saturday, May 7th to raise money for local charities. For a small entrance fee, students played football, softball, volley- ball and attended a student band concert at the end of the day. SUMMER 2011 11 IB Art Exhibit

IB II students filled up the Imad Taher Auditorium and Multipurpose Room again this year in a mesmerizing display of art work. For the past year and a half, students – led by Art teacher Samia Boulad – have been preparing for the Art Exhibit – part of the IB program course- work. Students go through a lot of soul searching to produce their work. Subjects represented the correlation between the life cycle of a rose and human condition, entrapment of humans in their taboos and their quest of freedom, the concept of hope to a cancerous boy, to famine in Africa, to child abuse by using symbol of a crane (bird), fashion and faith. As dictated by the IB program, an IB offi- cer flew in to inspect the students’ work. The results will be out in early summer. Artwork by: Carmen Hamadeh, Seima Dandan, Leila Abou Jawdeh, Sarrah Musleh, Haya Sleiman, Leya Hatoum, Lina Fansa, Noor Hamaouie, Farihan Uwaydah, Danya Taha, Grace Messarra, Andrea Comair, Mira Bocti. 12 SUMMER 2011

Ain Aar Lunch

Ain Aar Parents Committee held a lunch at the Pinocchio Restaurant in Jel eldib on April 15th.

Tournent Les Jours

Over 30 students from the (Ras Beirut) elementary school participated in the ‘Concours de Chant Francophone’ competition held on March 26th at the Lycée Abdel Kader School. Dressed in white with green and yellow scarves and led by music teacher Randa Sabbah, the students performed a breathtaking version of “Tournent Les Jours”. It took many hours of rehearsal where students learned how to harmonize listening to each other and how to interpret a song using dynamics. SUMMER 2011 13

The Albert Abela Award The Edmond Tohme Award

The Randa Khoury Award The George Debbas Award Teacher’s Day Dinner at Bristol Hotel

Retirees AA PS Diana Abou Lebdeh, Director of AA Up- Rabab Hage, Science Instructor Carine Arayssi, Art Instructor – AA CM1 per Elementary and Middle School Tanios Hashem, Carpenter – Physical Plant Rasha Daouk, Assistant to the Director, Elham Kurban, Administrative Assistant IB DP Coor. and Instructor Recipient of the Randa A. Khoury In- Mahitab Faytrouni, Assistant to the Di- novation in Teaching Award 25 Years of Service rector and Chairperson – Arabic Assil Hashem, Classroom Instructor – Maysoun Al Ali, English Instructor Sana Kaedbey, Classroom Instructor KGII KGII Majida Chatila, Arabic Instructor Samar Kandil, Science Instructor KGII Recipient of the George O. Debbas Josette Eid, French Instructor Samar Kandil, Science Instructor Award Connie Hadba, Curriculum Poj. Coord. Rula Malouf, Instructor and Chairperson Mira Al Horr, Revenue and Collection And Acting Head Librarian – Biology coordinator Norma Hmeidani, Instructor Arabic and Lina Melki, Classroom Instructor – AA Bassem Moawad, Head Cashier/Fixed Social Studies KGII Assets Accountant Yolla el Jamil, Math Instructor Carla Al Oud, Classroom Instructor – MS Fadi Abi Abdallah, Print shop Ain Aar Jinan Ladki, Assistant Teacher CE1 Mona Bashir, Preschool Helper Samat Zein El Abidine, Instructor and Recipient of the Edmond Tohme Distin- Community Service Advisor guished Educator’s Award

35 Years of Service Mona Bashir, Helper and Bus Supervisor Amer Ghawi, Clerk – Middle School Collette Matta, Assistant Director and Deleguée Auprès de l’IEN

45 Year of Service Elham Kurban, Administrable Assistant

The Albert Abela Distinguished Teacher Award Arlette Abi Raad, Classroom Instructor – 14 SUMMER 2011

Phonathon

IC Alumni office held a phonathon in May in an effort to raise money for the Annual Fund and update alumni records for the school. Eleven students spent many hours calling up alumni members.

Ain Aar Student Wins Plumier D’or

Ain Aar student, Nadim Nassar, was among 10 Laureates to win the Plumier D’Or, an international competition aimed at French language schools (grades of 4ème) worldwide. The winners, selected from among 10,000 participants, travelled to Paris in May to receive their awards at a reception held at the Hotel de la Marine. SUMMER 2011 15

International Day

The popularity of this year’s International Day soared beyond anyone’s expectations as over 1500 people came on campus in March to watch elementary and middle school students from Ain Aar and Ras Beirut put on impressive performances representing the countries of Argentina, Syria, Zimbabwe, Romania, Bahamas, Bo- livia, Nepal and Sweden. The students, all from Grade 3/CE2 and Grade 6/sixième, have been studying ‘their’ countries and thanks to teachers and parents (and physi- cal plant personnel who set up a 21m x12 stage!) – the event was a hit. Following the performances held at the IC football field, guests were treated to spectacular displays along the campus which included a variety of the countries’ local delectable dishes. 16 SUMMER 2011

Art Festival This year’s Art Festival is about global issues but seen by women artists – both western and eastern ones. The global issues were divided into two sections: environmental and social. A new twist awaited art lovers this year as classes from preschool until secondary have been working on ways to translate global issue – either environmental or so- cial – into artwork in the style of women artists. “It was very difficult,” said Samia Boulad, the head of the Art Department. “It was a challenge for both teachers and students.” What this basically entailed was choos- ing a global issue and then searching for women artists whose styles can be imi- tated in producing the necessary artwork. “We’ve always wanted to do women art- ists,” said Boulad. “But we needed a link between them. A teacher then suggested global issues as this link.” Students studied the work of over 24 artists and their styles. Topics included environmental ones including pollution, need to recycle, sharing the planet, our re- sponsibilities towards plants, safeguarding flowers and birds. Social topics included self-expression, rights of children, rights of women, different roles of women, uniqueness of a person, motherhood, respect of heritage and the family. SUMMER 2011 17 18 SUMMER 2011

The Way Things Were

It’s been more than 60 years but Agnes building overlooks AUB and the spar- missionaries were adamant. Seeing that Shamaa closes her eyes willing herself kling Mediterranean sea just beyond. A land was so cheap, he decided to simply to see it again. Everything is so different huge terrace once saw three boys romp- buy a small of land across the construc- now. Tall buildings everywhere. Endless ing around and making their way to IC. tion site on Bliss Street and build a room cars that block the roads. There was the Aunts, uncles, cousins once filled it as there (which eventually became a small Dorman house where the Blue Building they sipped tea watching the College Hall building as he moved his family there). If is today. She used to play there as a child. clock ticking away. But as children do – anything, it saved him the donkey trip. It Her parents also visited many missionar- they grew up and left home. Aunts and was part of his job to landmine the rocks ies’ villas with beautiful gardens but she uncles died. Cousins immigrated during to build West Hall. On one occasion, one could no longer remember their names. the Lebanese civil war. Still sprightly, mine didn’t explode. But when he went Everything was gone now. No houses. No Agnes goes up and down the long flight to check the reason, the mine went off gardens. No vegetable patches. of stairs to her home as deftly as ever. “It severely wounding him. He survived the “It was a beautiful walk to Bliss Street,” keeps me in shape,” she laughs. blast but eventually passed away from his she says slowly. “We would walk past the Developers are eyeing the strategic build- wounds. It was to his building that Agnes gardens in Jeanne D’arc street. It was ing in a bid to build yet another unsightly came to as a bride. such a quiet street then. We would reach building block but Agnes is holding on AUB was the center of the Ras Beirut the cactus and turn to Bliss. There were steadfastly to her traditional home - built community life. “We all knew each other,” hardly any cars. Just a few shops, mostly almost a century ago. She can pinpoint she said. “And we all attended all of AUB’s butchers. The rest were small houses and the exact date : 1914. “It was built at the events. Football and concerts. Everything. vegetable gardens.” same time that West Hall (in AUB) was There wasn’t any television or much enter- There’s a lot to remember in the 87 years being constructed,” she says. tainment at the time. There was AUB.” since she was born. A lot has happened. Her father-in-law was in the construction On her mantelpiece is a picture – dated in There are so many vivid memories. Some business at the time and tired of riding his 2003 – of a British officer handing her a in Baghdad, some in Jerusalem, others in donkey from Hazmieh to AUB everyday. service medal. “That was to thank me for Scotland and in Beirut. He thought it was crazy to build a univer- serving the British Army during WWII,” “Where do I start?” she asks herself. Her sity so far away from everything and on a she explains as she pulls out a Soldier Ser- home, the top floor of a three story old rocky hill nevertheless. But the American vice Pay book and leftover clothes coupon SUMMER 2011 19 from WWII. “I became a corporal. But I suppose I should start at the beginning.” The beginning was in 1924 in Jerusalem. Agnes was born to a James and Sadeeka Summerville. James was British national who was the District Commissioner in Palestine. He spoke fluent Arabic and had studied at AUB. While at univer- sity, he lost his mother and was aghast when his new Arab friend didn’t reply to his mother’s letters which arrived from Latikia. James took it upon himself to correspond to the mother and update her on her son’s life. When the mother later sent her daughters to study in Lebanon, she trusted James to be a good friend. One of the daughters was Sadeeka. It is told that James used to walk for hours to see Sadeeka (who was studying in Brou- mana) and would walk back in a hurry to Agnes in the British Army Agnes and her brother, Ronald, in make it back to Beirut before the Bab el Baghdad Idriss doors closed. during WWII “But anyway,” continues Agnes. “I was born in Jerusalem and my brother fol- lowed soon after.” The family lived in Baghdad for a while before moving back to Palestine. At the age of 12, Agnes was sent to boarding school in the UK – as ‘proper’ British chil- dren are supposed to do. Unfortunately, WWII broke out that year and Agnes wouldn’t see her parents for almost 10 years. In 1944, the Brit- ish government called on her to serve in the army. “So I was placed in the nursing unit in a hospital in Scotland,” she said. “I tended to Italian POWs.” In 1947, her parents – still in Palestine – claimed a “compassionate leave” for their Agnes’ childhood home on Jeanne D’arc Street. It has since been demolished. daughter to tend to her ‘ailing mother’. “That’s how I was able to leave the army and return to Jerusalem,” Agnes chuckled. wasn’t her forté and in despair her male A year later, however, Israel came into teacher finally told her: “you’re never going As part of the IC Community being and Agnes and her parents fled to to learn this so I might as well marry you.” Section, the IC Newsletter is Beirut. Once here, Mary Dodge (wife of Michel Shamma ‘34 and Agnes were looking for interesting stories. then AUB president) immediately sum- wedded in 1952. There was no doubt that If you’re an IC alumni, parent or moned her. “We are looking for a first their three boys (Johnny ‘72, Nadim ‘74 grade teacher for ACS,” she said. “And I and Ramzi Shamma ‘82) would attend grandparent with an interesting think you will do.” IC. story to tell, we’d love to hear it! And so it was that Agnes found herself Today, her grandson is an IC student. You may also submit your story in a teaching career. Shortly after, the Tucked in a corner on a hallway shelf in - not to exceed 500 words with a Tapline came into the scene and Ameri- Agnes’ home are a dozen or so old albums photo. (IC reserves the right to can businessmen flooded the capital (this neatly fitted with black and white fading edit submissions at the editor’s is, according to Agnes, was when build- photographs. In them are snapshots of discretion). ing blocks began to appear in Beirut to James, Sadeeka, Agnes, Michel, aunts, accommodate these new high paying uncles and cousins in Baghdad, Jerusalem, If interested, please contact renters). Secretaries were wanted and girls Scotland and Beirut. Reem Haddad at: rhaddad@ flocked to secretarial schools. Agnes was Agnes lovingly runs her hands over them. ic.edu.lb one of them. Unfortunately, shorthand There are still many many stories still untold. 20 SUMMER 2011

Dinners and Events

The Partnership for Excellence Campaign efforts continued this sponsored by Bank Audi. The next day, they travelled to Lon- season with dinners and meetings in Jordan, Geneva, London, don and held separate meetings with Mr. Mazen Masri ‘78, Dr. Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Ramzi Dalloul ‘53 and his son, Mr. Amrou Dalloul ‘83, Jordan was the first stop where IC president John Johnson and Mr. Raed Ziadeh ‘64, Mr. Fouad Malouf ‘56, Mr. Nijad Ham- VP Alumni & Development Moufid Beydoun ’64, attended an man ‘60, Mr. Karim Karaman ‘84, Mr. Gilbert Jabre ‘62 and Mr. alumni dinner hosted by Mr. Issa Halabi ’78. Yusef Abu Khadra ‘65. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Beydoun and Director of Development Peter Gerard took off for Geneva in March where 58 alumni and In April, Mr. Beydoun travelled to Saudi Arabia and attended friends met at a reception organized by Mr. John McCarthy and a dinner hosted by Mr. Fathi Captan ’74 at his home in Al

Jordan

Said Darwazah ‘76 and Maha Shair

Back row: Issa Halabi ‘78, John Johnson, Ramzi Kandalaft ‘78, Fawaz Zu’bi ‘75, Talal Shair ‘83, Said Darwazah ‘76, Maha Shair, Ali Husry ‘75 Front row: Louisa Halabi, Zeina Kandalaft, Salma Jaouni ‘91, Moufid Beydoun ‘64, Joumana Kawar ‘72, Mariana Darwazah SUMMER 2011 21 Switzerland

Khobar where over 20 alumni and friends gathered. The group brainstormed ways to fundraise for IC – most likely setting up a scholarship fund. In Riyadh, Mr. Bedyoun met with Dr. Saud al Shawwaf ’56 and his son, Samer and Mr. Mohammed Rayess ‘67 as well as attended a dinner hosted by Sheikh Mohamed Al Suleiman ‘59. Another highlight of his stay was a lunch hosted by Mr. Bassam Badran ‘76 and attended by Oussama Najjar ‘76, Karim Mroueh ‘76 and Ziyad Khuri ’76. They participated in donating to the 1976 Class Alumni reception in Switzerland Fund. In Jeddah, Mr. Beydoun met with Mr. Said Hatalani ‘72 and his brother Mr. Ahmad Hatalani ‘69. He also met with Mr. Nafez al Jindi , Mr. Mohammed Basamah ‘65, Mr. Mohamad Zamali ‘81, and Sheikh Issam Kabbani ‘51. In May, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Beydoun and Mr. Ghandi Fala (Director of the Annual Fund) traveled to Dubai and attended a dinner hosted by Mr. Naaman Atallah ‘83 and his wife, Dania at their home where over 60 alumni and friends had gathered. Mr. Johnson delivered a speech about the Partnership for Excellence Campaign. Then and there, the group – thanks to Mr. Elias Hanna ‘61’s suggestion – decided to set up a fund in the name of the Dubai alumni. Many contributed to it right away! Meetings were also held with Mr. Hassan Daher ’90, Mr. Patrick Shalhoub ‘75, Mr. Serge Kotovsky ‘60, and Major Dan Azzi ‘83. In Abu Dhabi, meetings were held with Mr. Samir Chaghouri ‘63, Mr. Jamil Mroue ‘69, Mr. Elie Salloum and Mr. Fawzi Bayyoud.

John Johnson, Mandana Hajj ‘88, John McCarthy, Lyn Khalidy ’86, Ayman Abou Chakra ‘83, Peter Gerard, Mary McCarthy, Moufid Beydoun ‘64 22 SUMMER 2011

John Johnson, Dr Ramzi Dalloul ‘53, Moufid Beydoun ’64, Amrou Dalloul ‘83 London

John Johnson, Raid Ziadeh ‘64, Moufid Beydoun ‘64

Moufid Beydoun ’64 and Yusef Abu Khadra ‘65 SUMMER 2011 23 Saudi Arabia

Dr Saud Shawwaf ‘56, Moufid Beydoun ’64, Samer Shawaf

Dinner hosted by Fathi Captan ‘74

Ousama Najjar ‘76, Karim Mroueh ‘76, Ziyad Khuri ‘76, Moufid Beydoun ‘64 Bassam Badran ‘76 24 SUMMER 2011 Dubai

Dinner hosted by Naaman Atallah ’83 and his wife, Dania Dania Attalah, John Johnson, Elias Hanna ‘61, Naaman Atallah ‘83

Ghandi Fala, John Johnson, Serge Kotovsky ‘60 , Moufid Beydoun ‘64 Dania Atallah, Dalia Hajj Ali, Nada Jeuz ‘80

IC visits Hariri

IC president John Johnson, Senior Vice President Mishka Mourani and Vice President Alumni and Development Moufid Beydoun ‘64 met with Prime Minister Saad Hariri at his residence in Beit Al-Wasat in April to discuss IC’s Partnership for Excellence Campaign. SUMMER 2011 25

The Maher Abdallah Saidi Room

The multipurpose room in the new South Building (of the new elementary school) is now the Maher Abdallah Saidi Multipurpose Room thanks to a gen- erous parent donor who prefers to remain anonymous. Mr Saidi – a late relative of the donor – graduated from IC in 1961 then earned a degree in Architecture at the University of Tennessee. He passed away in 2010.

IC’s Youngest Donor

Meet’s IC’s youngest donor in the Partnership for Excellence and I’m glad that my son loves it here so much that he wants to Campaign so far: 7-year-old Zaki Fawwas. He started saving donate his money.” his allowance a month ago when he picked up the IC Newsletter On May 10th, Zaki and his father showed up at the president’s and a donation envelope fell out. His mother explained to him office where Zaki handed in his envelope – with 100,000 LL - in that the envelope was for anyone who would like to donate some it to John Johnson. money to the school. That’s when Zaki decided to he would like “I usually buy toys with my money,” said Zaki. “I’ve got lots to fill up the envelope with his allowance. His surprised par- already. This time, I want to give my money to IC because I like ents agreed. “I was pleased,” said his father, Hadi Fawaz ’90, an my school.” auditor and financial consultant. “I myself loved studying at IC 26 SUMMER 2011 Updates ‘53 Engineering Insti- of BS in Biology-Chemistry (1979), then Abdur-Rahman Saghir, Ph.D. partici- tute (SEI) during the an MS degree in Medical Microbiol- pated in the World Congress of Parasitic Institute’s last Board ogy (1981), and finally a Ph.D. in Basic Plants which was held in Martina Franca, of Governors meeting Medical Sciences (Medical Microbiology Italy June 7-12,2011. He will also visit held in April. He will subspecialty Virology) (1986). FAO and IFAD Headquarters in Rome assume his new role in She is currently a professor of Medical after the congress to discuss future consul- October 2011. Rihani is Principal of REI Microbiology at the medical school at the tation missions in weed management for Structural Consultants of Reston, Vir- Lebanese University, the Hadath Campus. the Middle East. ginia, a structural engineering consulting She also has ongoing research in her field. firm serving the Eastern United States. Zuhair Mehio ‘53 retired two years ago af- During his 33 year professional career, he ‘84 ter a long service in the UN and for the UN. has specialized in the structural analysis and design of steel framing systems and Fouad Osseiran and ‘60 buildings, and acted as the lead structural Mariane Maasri engineer on more than 700 projects. He is ‘94 enjoyed the Serge Kotovsky currently lives in Dubai a licensed professional engineer in several traditional celebra- and sends the following picture of a Bac- states, and is a Fellow of the American tions of Fallas in caleaureat 1ere partie graduation group Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a Valencia with their picture in 1959 around Mr Robert Cour- prestigious honor held by fewer than 4% two children Shireen son (maths teacher). of ASCE members. and Rayan. During the Fallas, which took From left to right: Jean Heneine (outside place from March 15 - 19, shireen and ‘71 Rayan were dressed with the traditional costumes of Falleros!! Marwan M. Hajjar graduated from AUB with a BA in psychology and diploma in Shirine Maktabi is now running family education in 1981. He taught for three years business Iwan Maktabi (Ashrafieh, Ver- at various schools in Lebanon before leaving dun and Phonicia). Shirine recently added in 1984 for Saudi Arabia with his wife and a new section in the business, modern first born son to work at Najd National and recycled carpets and it is a hit. She School (NNS), which had just been found- is the mother of three children. Her son, IC friend of the Group), Serge Dou- ed by the late martyr Sheikh Rafic Hariri. Sherif Maktabi ‘09 is currently at AUB bine (now in France), Serge Kotovsky He has worked there for 27 years and is still Mechanical Engineering and he is giving Robert Courson (maths teacher), Yazbek, going strong. As for his interests and hob- an elective course at IC, Ghida at LAU Edwin Beylerian (now in the USA), bies, he earned a black belt in taekwondo in and Wassim student at IC (4ème). Pierre Tufenkji. 1974, and passed intermediate levels in chi kung and tai chi. In addition, he feels com- Dania Dbaibo Darwish ‘64 fortable and euphoric on horseback, jog (ob- After graduating from AUB with a BBA sessively and compulsively), plays the guitar in 1987, Dania worked in Sales and Mar- Bassem Naamani left his work at (passable) and the piano (quite impressive), keting at Spinneys Lebanon. Her career Internat’l Finance co. Lebanon-SAL writes English poetry (about to get his first took a halt due to marriage and shifting and was appointed “Resident Financial collection published), and last but definitely residence repeatedly Controller” at Dar Al Fatwa , by the com- not least, he is addicted to reading. “I thank to different countries. mittee in charge of Reorganizing Dar Al you profusely for allowing me this oppor- Dania, re-enrolled Fatwa Departments and related institu- tunity to get in touch with this ‘ivy league’ at AUB years later tions/entities, a very sensitive and chal- academy to which I will remain grateful for to graduate with a lenging position I hope to fill successfully. the rest of my life,” he writes. Masters in Psychol- ogy in 2007. She was ‘70 ‘75 directly recruited by AUB and has been a psychology instructor since then. Cur- Sarmad (Sam) Rihani P.E., F.ASCE has Dr. Nora Bedrossian continued her stud- rently, she also runs her own practice as been elected President of the Structural ies in AUB, where she obtained a degree life coach, counselor, hypnotherapist, NLP SUMMER 2011 27 practitioner, and a motivational speaker. natology at Phoenix Children Hospital Lama, and son, Jad. He will join the Ameri- Most recently, she became the founding with NAL and hold a clinical assistant can University of Beirut Medical Center. president of the Lebanese Coach Associa- professor position at the University of tion which as among the very few in the Arizona. He is also the medical director Nadine Maktabi and husband Has- MENA region. In addition, she’s a council of the Neonatal ICU at Phoenix Baptist san, moved to Beirut from Riyadh member in WAAAUB and a member of Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. He recently got in 2006 where she worked as a me- the Lebanese Psychological Association. married to Rana Sabra (Sept 2010) and dia manager in JWT. The couple just currently lives in Phoenix, AZ. opened in Beirut their Fine Persian rug Samar Fouad Ibrahim is working as Head Boutique, «CYRUS MAKTABI» in Of Retail Department at Bank Misr Liban. Walid Tabanji and his wife, Nesreen, were Ashrafieh,Independence avenue, special- blessed with a boy, Alexander, born on July izing in modern and oriental carpets and ’87 19th in Dubai. They have two other sons: kilims. Cyrus Maktabi›s Core competi- Ramzi and Edward. tive service is designing any tailor made Jihad Srage completed his engineering hand woven carpet within our client studies in AUB, then went on to do his ‘93 specification in size color and design, and masters degree at the University of Mich- having it ready within five months period. igan-Ann Arbor. “That was the beginning Nadia Jaroudi (Raad) graduated from Their daughter Karen is enjoying IC be- of my transformation meeting with a IC in 1993 and went on to study archi- ing in CE1, and their son Abdallah has diverse culture and adapting to that diver- tecture at AUB and graduated in 1999. joined IC last year, and is now in KGII. “It sity,” he writes. He has then taken part of She is married to Hani Raad and has two is really beautiful to get first hand quality what was a critical achievement in the wonderful children, who both attend IC. education in a great institution like IC, our history of physics where he was part of a Tamara (born Oct 16, 2000) is now in dear alma mater where all the pleasure of team that built the system that discovered CM2 and Ziad (born Aug 3, 2005) is in learning grows hand by hand with a rich the Top Quark in 1994, the smallest par- GS, both about to «graduate» this June. extra curriculum activities, social work, and ticle known to man. He pursued his MBA She is currently working with her brother the support of excellent educators,”she at the University of Chicago after that, and Tammam (also IC alumni, 1994) who is a writes. After moving from Riyadh in 2006 moved on to the world of business starting civil engineer in their own office in Beirut, where she worked, Nadine Maktabi (1995) in wireless telecom in 1998 and staying Jaroudi Management Group. “I will never and husband Hassan Maktabi. in that industry till now. He returned to forget my years at IC that gave me hap- the Middle East and Dubai specifically piness, eagerness to learn new things and after 17 years in the US, taking the role confidence to try anything, which I now see ‘96 of President of Middle East and Africa in my children›s eyes every day,” she writes. Dr. Marwan M. Refaat is a cardiologist region for a US-based blue chip company specializing in cardiac electrophysiology. Qualcomm Inc. He is married with three ‘94 In May 2011, Dr. Refaat was the recipient boys of 9, 6 and 2 who “I will hope would of the Heart Rhythm Society Kenneth become IC graduates following the family Emile Tabanji and his wife, Samar were M. Rosen Fellowship Award in Cardiac tradition (my brother, 2 cousins, 2 uncles, blessed with a girl Siena, born on October 19 Pacing and Electrophysiology. In April and others have led the way).” in Beirut. They have another daughter: Reya. 2011, Dr. Refaat was a recipient of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ‘89 ‘95 Arab Students’ Organization Science and Technology Young Professional Achieve- Hilda Harb, Bsc., MPH received her Ahmad Ghannoum got married on June ment Award. Dr. Refaat graduated from BSC in Environmental Health at AUB- 2nd. Her name is Raya Ounsi (Not an the International College in 1996 with FHS, and a Master of Public Health-Epi- IC alumni). Distinction and was a recipient of the demiology and Biostatistics at AUB-FHS International College Scholar Award as well. She is currently the Head of Fadi G. Mirza, M.D. relocated to the and the International College Alumni Statistics Department at the Ministry of United States for specialty training after Association Award. After receiving his Public Health in Lebanon. graduating from AUB with a medical MD degree from AUB, Dr. Refaat moved degree in 2002. He pursued a four-year to the United States where he completed ‘90 residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology an internship and residency program in at Tufts University in Boston followed by internal medicine at the Massachusetts Zahi Haidar completed medical school a three-year fellowship in Maternal-Fetal General Hospital and Harvard Medi- at AUB in 97, and Masters in Business at Medicine at Columbia University in New cal School in Boston, Massachusetts. He the University of Rochester, Rochester, York City. Upon completion of his training, completed a fellowship in cardiovascular NY. He completed pediatric training at Fadi joined the faculty at Columbia Uni- medicine at the University of Pittsburgh AUB and SUNY, Syracuse, NY in 2004 versity Medical Center, where he currently Medical Center in 2010 and was the and Neonatology at Golisano Children spends his time in patient care, education, recipient of Dr. Galal M. Ziady Memo- Hospital in Rochester, NY in 2007. He is and research. Fadi will be moving back to rial Award for Excellence in Care of the currently residing and practicing neo- Lebanon this summer along with his wife, Cardiac Patient in June 2010. Dr. Refaat is 28 SUMMER 2011

currently living in San Francisco, his email bilingual classroom at Phorms Education- worth of experience writing for Outlook is: [email protected]» Campus Hamburg. They have been living Newspaper. Next, she moved to London for in Hamburg, Germany for the past four one year where she completed her Masters Mustafa Shaaban and Diana Barakeh years. They hope to move back to Lebanon Degree in International Law at the School have been blessed with a healthy baby boy, in the near future and start a family there. Of Oriental And African Studies (SOAS). Faysal, on March 9, 2011. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of U ‘02 Magazine (since May 2010). They have ‘97 released nine issues so far, as well as their Christelle G. Elia graduated from the annual bridal supplement U Bridal, pub- Riad Mawass is currently the Pharmacy American University of Beirut (AUB) lished last March. “The days spent at IC Channel Leader in IATCO (P&G Distribu- in 2005. After completing her intern- were some of the tor). Riad and Nada Ghalayini (1997) are ex- ship at St. Georges University Hospital in most memorable in pecting a brother for Lana by mid July 2011. Achrafieh she worked in different health my life. Luckily, I centers across the country. As part of her am still very close to ‘98 commitment to inspiring people to live my school friends, well and in order to gain more expertise three of whom I see Anna-Christina El Mokdessi (Hambar- and experience, Christelle left for Doha, on a weekly basis if sounian) studied Elementary Education at Qatar and made a significant contribu- not more often,” she AUB, a graduate year 2002 and then later tion as a community nutritionist as well as writes. “I will never on moved to New York City(2003-2007) a clinical one. An extensive research study forget the adventures and attended Columbia University, Teachers at the Epidemiology and Health Depart- we shared, from Skip Day to Prom Night; College where she completed two degrees: ment in AUB led her to come back in 2008 and of course the endless hours cramming MA in Learning Disabilities and an EdM to work as a field researcher and interview- for our IBO exams, stressing over university in Early Childhood Special Education. She er for this project. This cumulating experi- applications... deciding what to do next. also worked as a Special Needs preschool ence led to the birth of H&W clinic. She is We could never have done it without Mrs. teacher for 3 years in Manhattan. She currently the owner of H&W Healthy & Daouk, our IBO advisor and a great mentor moved to Hamburg,Germany in December Wise health and fitness space in Mtayleb to us all. I am greatly looking forward to our 2007 and worked as a freelance English and whose vision is to inspire all people to live 10 year reunion, to find out what everyone special needs teacher. She’s been working well whatever their circumstances in order has been up to lately. I know that a lot since August 2010 for PHORMS Ham- to lead a better and healthier life. has changed in my life since our IC days burg a bilingual school in Hamburg as a together.” preschool teacher. She is married since May ‘03 2010 to Garo Hambarsounian ’99. He has ‘05 worked for Fresh Del Monte (between Maher Abdel-Sattar moved to Califor- South America and Germany since 2002). nia and earned a Bachelor of Science in Saad Khatib is currently residing in Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology Erbil, Kurdistan - Iraq. With his brother ‘99 from UCLA with a minor in Human Mohamad, they have opened a Lebanese Complex Systems. He is currently com- restaurant there recently. http://www. Sary Richat a Senior Account Manager pleting his graduate studies at UCSF, hoteliermiddleeast.com/10653-new-res- working at DDB Qatar. the highest ranked school of pharmacy taurant-in-erbil-opens-to-rave-reviews/ in the United States. For the past year, he Ali Mansour sent the following photo of worked as a pharmacy intern at McKes- ‘07 6th B class of 99. son Specialty Care Solutions where he helped design chemotherapy guidelines for Rami Dabboucy graduated from LAU oncologists to use. However, he’s looking with Distinction Honors in 2010 (GPA forward to transitioning to a new position 3.6) and is currently an Auditor at Price- with Genentech/Roche Pharmaceuticals as WaterhouseCoopers, one of the Big Four a Managed Care Medical Communication audit companies in the world. And yet intern starting this June. “I miss my days as when “I was an IC student, I used to be an IC student and I am very proud of my very lazy, I was not a hard worker, I used sister, Rana Abdel-Sattar, for her numer- to sit in the back row of my class and I ous accomplishments and for almost being used to hate numbers,” he writes. Garabed Hambarsounian married Anna- done with her Bac examinations,” he writes. Christina El Mokdessi ’98. Garabed works for Del Monte Fresh Produce as Op- ‘04 Correction erations Manager-Outside Purchases for The toddler seen in the photo class of Germany and Christina is an Early Child- Aya Jammal received her BA in 2007, with 1941-1942 in the Newsletter Spring hood Special Needs Educator for preschool an emphasis in International Relations, a 2011 is NOT Ariel Doubine’s son as stated in the caption. and is currently the preschool teacher in a Minor in American Studies and a year›s SUMMER 2011 29 In memorium

We regret to inform you that Salim Hachache Those of you who were at IC in the 70s, ‘49 passed away on Feb. 23, 2011. He was known 80s and into the early 90s will remem- for his charismatic character and generosity. The ber Janet Hyde-Clarke, a colleague who IC family sends their deepest condolences to the was instrumental in the introduction of Hachache family. educational technology to IC, one of the founding members of the ERC, and the first full-fledged Director of Ain Aar.

Janet was tenacious in her love for Lebanon, tumultuous though the We regret to inform you that Laure years she spent here. Lunt, English teacher from 1954 to Janet was an amazing woman- a 1989, passed away in April 2011. force of nature. She was a great lover The IC family sends their deepest of bridge, of crosswords, and of causes- condolences to the Lunt family. lost and otherwise. She was intel- ligent, eloquent, unconventional and big-hearted. Janet was also a great lover of literature. May she rest in peace.

Mishka Mojabber Mourani Senior Vice President

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing away of our very good friend Habib Bridi ’69 on May 4th 2011. Hibbo, as we used to call him as in “ana b’hibbo la Hibbo”, will be greatly missed. Very few people had as much life in them as Habib did, and it is sad that his life had to end so early….

Camille Fuleihan ‘69 30 SUMMER 2011 Thomas Schuller (1917-2011)

Thomas Schuller was IC president from 1961 «new qahwitt li›jazz», Starbucks. He also until 1976. He passed away on March 3rd informs me of who has completed the 2011. IC staff and faculty send their deepest cycle of life in this world and transitioned, condolences to the Schuller family. leaving us and the people he or she loved wondering where we go when we exit. My good brother, Rabih, keeps me My brother keeps me updated on the informed of things happening in the old important things. Yes, he does. A couple country, in the very old country, with the of weeks ago one more piece of real news very old problems. He keeps me informed from the old country. Thomas Schuller of the things that do not make it to the passed away. headlines of the newspaper. That means he keeps informed of the things that count. Do not stand at my grave and weep, Who of the friends and family had a child, who got married, I know the man, I said. I have a diploma who got divorced, who hanging in my office with his signature he stumbled onto on on it. The only diploma I have hanging Hamra street, and in my office. As a matter of fact it is in who was hav- my patient exam room. It certifies that I ing coffee in the completed my Elementary Education at the International College. I am sure it is his signature, I know his signature, he was my friend. His along with that other man whose eyebrows were bushier than those of Einstein, Mr. Ataya. One signature in Arabic and the other in English. The di- ploma, except for the name of the school, is in Arabic. My patients think it is my M.D.If they ask, I explain. I say that that is my Elementary School Diploma. I op- erated on the man who signed it...I say. If he trusted me, so should you...I say. I fixed his hernia...I say. When he walked into my office at AUMC in 1992, he asked if I could fix it. I asked if he thought his teachers did a good job. He said yes. So I said, then I can. He said go ahead. And that was that.

I am not there, I do not sleep.

In 1967, school was suspended on June 5. I was twelve. A war had broken out. Word on the street was that if we all spit across the front lines we will drown the enemy. We are hundreds of millions and they are only one million. Six days later we had no saliva to swallow, we were dehydrated and dry from panting with our mouths fully opened wondering how we could have run back so fast. The school year was considered done. We went to the Martin House to shake the hand of a man who was In memorium SUMMER 2011 31

nearly double our height, his palm was it was to be Tom and Nuha. They invited by. We raised a glass to the future that was triple the size of our palms. Smiling face, Yussuf Hannun, Bassem Dbeibo and me then the present, and that now is the past. finely striped trousers, plaid jacket. That to their apartment on California Street by «Short are the college days»... was him. The President of the School. the Beirut 7, 4 and 1 Dens. Dinner and His Jaguar was in its regular corner by the drinks. Man, are we getting ahead in life. Do not stand at my grave bereft entrance to the house. He handed us the We joined in a song together to our Alma I am not there. I have not left. Diploma, chocolate cake - the American Mater›s praise and raised a glass to IC›s kind, and some lemonade. Elementary long life serving the country and the area. Another 15 years pass. That, now is more School is over. «Stop for the hours are than a quarter and less than a third of my flying»... I am in the morning hush, life. Thomas has taken an exit. He left his I am in the graceful rush outfit behind to try a new one in a differ- I am in a thousand winds that blow, ent world. He is starting again, some- The war rages in Lebanon. Ours, and ours where, looking for a «Tallee Mishirfee» to A few years passed, six of them. A third of alone. This business about foreigners and build a school on. Looking for a lady with my life at that time. Student activism was outside hands is just Abu Abed talk for onyx hair and a disarming smile. Looking in vogue. Liberation obviously had to be local consumption (dood il khal minnoo for a black Jaguar, a golf course, and for a led by students, that is what we believed w fee). This time we did it all alone. We bunch of students that will knock his of- then, that is what I believe now. Old fought on both sides of the front line. And fice door down and tell him they did not, farts with jobs and families seek security. when we got tired we mixed the lines so and he›ll tell them he knows that they did Students seek life and want it more abun- that those who fought yesterday hugged not. They will tell him a white lie and he dantly. So we started with the liberation and kissed today, and those that hugged will reciprocate. A few years later he will of our campus by occupying Rockefeller yesterday killed each other today. Ameri- have a drink with them and invite them Hall. The big man and his teachers came cans were kidnapped and held hostage. for dinner in his new world. to negotiate. He sat at the head of the Reagan banned all US citizens from flying table, Rahhal to his right, or maybe to his to the Lebanon. Only Tom did not heed Sing of the dear days passing...or maybe... left. I do not remember now, I guess it is the warnings, did not leave, did not listen sing of the dear ones that are passing in not important. He said he will negoti- to the State Department. He stayed with the days that have passed ! What is new... ate in good faith to meet what he can of Nuha on California Street, living his nothing is new under the sun. This is life, our demands only if we promise that we normal day to day life. After all he was and death is only a part of this cycle. do not break into his office. We prom- on California Street, that is a State, and ised that we will not, but the door to his in Beirut we have it all on a street, «shoo Mr. Schuller...I mean Thomas, you did office had already been knocked down as babboor». However, I think he compro- well. You did well by your students. You someone went looking for documents that mised his principles, I think he may have did well by the country that you adopted link him to «The Embassy». We quickly stopped playing golf in that period. But I and that adopted you. You definitely did put it back together with glue and nails. will not count that against him, the Golf better than some of the country›s native We thought we got it by him. But now Club became the new front lines when children have done. Then again there is I realize that we really did not. He just our neighbors, the Israelis, came to visit, nothing new in this statement. «The Sun» turned the other cheek and blamed it all and heavy visitors they are! of IC had said that before. Indeed...there on the exuberance of youth. He continued is nothing new under the sun. «Short are to negotiate in good faith. «Short are the I am in the flowers that bloom, the college days»...or should I borrow college days...» I am in a quiet room. from that Arab poet and say «short is the trip from the cradle to the grave.» I am the softly falling snow. Another 10 years pass, more than a quarter I am the gentle showers of rain, of my life then. I was in my office at And to Nuha, our love and condolences. It I am the fields of ripening grain. AUMC minding my own business when was a fine trip...with a fine companion...in he walked in and asked to make him part a fine country. I think the two of you lived Again years pass. Three of them, one sev- of my business. I took a knife to his groin, happily ever after. Not a bad story for the enth of my life then. He and the woman patched him up, and here he was good to children of IC. May you live long and tell that sat at his side, opposite Rahhal, go. This time, Yussuf and Bassem were in it again and again to those children. It will negotiating in Sage Hall (when we, the his old country, he was in theirs. I was mar- bring a smile to their faces, and when they students, occupied Rockefeller Hall) were ried, so he invited me and my good looking get a little older it may bring a tear. now man and wife. We then had en- bride to have dinner with him and his good tered the land of wisdom, The Medical looking bride, again in their apartment on Submitted by Dr Akram Talkouk ’74 School. No longer were we to call him California Street. Again we raised a glass (Poem by «Do not stand at my grave and Mr. Schuller and her Miss Mudawwar, to dear days passing and to the days gone weep» by Mary Elizabeth Frye) Build and they will learn

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