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Diab Rabie Passes Away at the Age of 87

Diab Rabie Obituary as announced by his family in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 14, 2010

drabie1 Diab Jeries Rabie’, born October 10th, 1922, passed away on July 14th, 2010, after a long battle with lung cancer at the age of 87. He came to the United States from Palestine in 1947 as a foreign correspondent to the United Nations and stayed here with an uncle in Wrightsville Beach after the creation of the state of Israel shortly thereafter in 1948. His family fled to the city of Birzeit in Jordan’s West Bank.

Asib Suleiman Samander

June 8, 1936 - March 24, 2010

Asib Suleiman Samander left this world for a better place on the 24th of March 2010 in Biloxi Mississippi. He is survived by his wife Sandra, his children Cheryl, Craig, Brian, and Brenna, his grandchildren Breanna, Angelina, Jacob, and Keira, and by his brother Munib and his sisters Mufideh, Fadwa, Sister Bernard, Rose, and Iftikhar.

The late Asib Samander was born in Jaffa, Palestine and grew up and went to schools in Birzeit and later served as a divisional Sgt. Major in the Jordanian Army before immigrating to the United States to pursue higher education. Throughout his professional career as an engineer, he was an innovator in the field of robotics and conveyor systems and holder of numerous patents and trademarks, revolutionizing the field of packaging and handling globally.

A generous soul and lover of gardens, animals, auto racing, ice hockey, and culinary delights, he will be missed profoundly by his family and friends.

His family has requested that in, lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to Birzeit Society to start a scholarship memorial fund for the benefit of needy Birzeiti students. Donations should be sent to:

Birzeit Society
Asib Samander Memorial Fund
P O Box 1822
Norwalk, CA 90651

Zafer Sulaiman Samandar

Zafer Sulaiman Samandar was laid to rest in Birzeit on January 28th, 2010 at the age of 65 after suffering a cardiac arrest during his sleep. Zafer left behind him his wife Nahida, his daughters Victoria, Valerie, Vivien, Vera and his son Sulaiman, and his grandchildren, Renann, Tiana, Emil and Brianna. He left Birzeit at the age of 18 to complete his studies in Spain then went to Kuwait to work where he stayed for over 25 years and became very successful. He migrated to the US in 1990 where he opened up his own business then he went back to Birzeit to retire and achieve his dream of opening a bakery which he started operating in 2003 until present.

Zafer was a great achiever and very compassionate about everything he did. His sudden death was a shock and huge loss to all who loved and knew him.

He truly was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and brother and he will be greatly and deeply missed!

Nader Salameh Ziadeh

It is with great sadness that Birzeit Society announces the passing away of Nader Salameh Ziadeh who died in Birzeit on 12/21/2009 at the age of 67. He is survived by his wife Nawal Burbar Ziadeh and by five children, three of whom are married: Nagham Ziadeh Kaileh, Nancy Ziadeh Burbar, Salameh, Husam, and Sakher.

Birzeit Society extends its deepest condolences to the Ziadeh and Burbar families in Birzeit and the United States, including the the daughters of the deceased Nagham Ziadeh Kaileh in San Francisco and Nancy Burbar Emied in Brampton, Canada, and his sister in law Kifah Burbar Asfour in New York.

May God bless his soul.

Dr. Jeffery Musa Nasir

Arcadia, California - With great sorrow and sadness Birzeit Society mourns the death of Dr. Jeffery Nasir, 39, the son of Dr. Musa and Mrs. Suhaila Nasir of Arcadia, California, who passed away of a sudden pulmonary embolism in the island of Guam were he lived and worked as a medical doctor. Jeffery is survived by his parents, his sisters Mona and Tania. Birzeit Society has decided to establish a Scholarship Memorial Fund in memory of Dr. Jeffery Musa Nasir under the BZS Endowment Fund. The Society will match donations up to $5,000.

We invite BZS members and all Birzeitis and friends of Dr. Musa and Mrs. Suhaila Nasir to donate to this Fund in memory of their son Jeffery in lieu of flowers and in appreciation of the continuous philanthropic work they have done through their humanitarian work in Birzeit and Palestine.

Dr. Musa Nasir is a founder and member of the Board of Directors of Birzeit Society and a generous contributor to the BZS Scholarship program which provides financial aid to needy students from Birzeit. Dr. Nasir is also a co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Palestine Children's Relief Fund, and his wife Suhaila, is Treasurer of the same organization, which is dedicated to providing injured Palestinian children with medical care.

Please send your tax deductible contribution by check to the following address:
Birzeit Society
Jeffery Musa Nasir Scholarship Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 1822
Norwalk, CA 90651