Obituary

It is with deep sorrow that we commemorate the passing of Najeeb Nabil Khoury on August 8, 2025. He died at the age of 47 from a rare cancer.

Najeeb was a devoted husband to Fadia Rafeedie Khoury (daughter of Lydia Qassis and Issam Rafeedie) and a loving father to daughters Bahia (17) and Samar (14). He was the beloved son of Dr. Nabil and Mrs. Raghida Khoury of Nazareth.

During his undergraduate years at Williams College, Najeeb studied abroad at Birzeit University, where he deepened his knowledge of Arabic and developed lifelong friendships, including a cherished bond with Miss Amy Aranki, from whom he rented a room while studying at Birzeit University. He especially treasured exploring Jerusalem during his time in Palestine.

Najeeb went on to earn a law degree from Harvard University and a Master's degree in Islamic Studies from UC Berkeley. His career reflected his deep commitment to justice: he first worked in civil rights law before dedicating himself to public sector labor relations, first as an advocate, and later as an arbitrator, mediator and factfinder. When he died, he had a thriving independent practice and also simultaneously served as the Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles' Employee Relations Board, and one of only three commissioners on the Los Angeles County Employee Relations Commission. In a certificate of condolence, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote of Najeeb: "Throughout his career, he remained dedicated to supporting individuals employed by the city and was well known for his deep knowledge, professionalism, and fairness…He leaves a legacy of strength, integrity, and compassion that remains woven into the fabric of our city." Among other things, Bass credited him with helping end the city's teachers' strike of 2019.

A passionate traveler, Najeeb made four memorable journeys with his wife, daughters, and extended family to historic Palestine. Together they visited many places, including Nazareth, Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee, Akka, Haifa, Yafa, Bethlehem, and Battir-experiences that strengthened his ties to his homeland. He firmly believed in the power of education and was a steadfast supporter of access to learning for all Palestinians.

To honor Najeeb's legacy, his family, together with the Birzeit Society, has established a Memorial Scholarship Fund in his name to support students in need at Birzeit University. His brother-in-law, Nidal Rafeedie, first envisioned this scholarship as a way to carry forward Najeeb's values and impact.

Those who wish to contribute to this fund may do so by scanning the QR code below and following the instructions.

Birzeit Society is a licensed U.S. non-profit charitable organization (Tax ID #33-0287960). All contributions are tax-deductible.