At 88, surrounded by his children and their children, he lies in a hospital bed as he witnesses his heart pumping less, his organs shutting down, and his body failing. It was only two days prior that this lover of life quit asking when his doctor would allow him to leave the hospital.

Even one’s passing can be beautiful.

80 years back

His mom argued with the dad about sending the boy to school. Eight years old and had never been. Holding his hand, they went from Achrafieh to Hamra’s “Frères Capucins” mission, meeting with one of the brothers. Standing on the abbot’s side, the boy in shorts told his mom to get him his clothes because he was staying and not going back with her. He stayed as a boarding student for years, occasionally going home on vacation.

Starting school late made him run to catch up with all the other students and the learning he missed. Catching up, he did. Outperforming many, he did, too. Just like Forrest, once he started running and couldn’t stop.

Run Assaad run.

Throughout his long life and until the end, his competitiveness was part of his mesh. His ego was his fuel. And his challenge.

The lessons we learned

Eighty-eight years of life carry experience and wisdom. Some of the lessons we learned having been around him:

• Eat together.

• The freshest fish have sparkling eyes.

• The best sausages are Makanek (and the German ones).

• Attract grandchildren with donuts.

• Attract everyone with storytelling.

• Make friends around BBQ.

• Have your live-in house help join you at the family table.

• Solve issues over a meal.

• The best Arak is the one you distill yourself. And always one-third and two-thirds mix.

• Learn how to pick your vegetables.

• If you decide to go hunting, stop in Chtaura for sahlab.

• Buy the best you can afford (and everything German).

• Make education first and keep learning.

• Use every good occasion to teach your students outside the classroom.

• Mentor, support, and tirelessly teach the youth.

• Pick up hobbies: photography, cooking, sudoku, crosswords, …

• Love God.

• Love Lebanon.

• Faith in family.

• Visit with Our Lady of Lebanon when you're happy, when you're sad, when celebrating, or deciding. Visit with Her.

• Love your mom.

• Pamper your daughter.

• Spoil your granddaughters.

• Be a father. Assume the mother role, if you have to. Succeed at both.

• Love again.

• Laugh.

• Smile.

• Be grateful.

• Be generous.

• Treat little children and giants with the same respect.

• Even fighting can be done with honor.

• Obsess with doing things “the right way.”

• Get up early to:

  • work,

  • pray,

  • enjoy your coffee,

  • go out and get breakfast for the ones still sleeping,

  • get the best fishermen’s catch for lunch,

  • prepare your theodolites and other surveying instruments for your class among Beirut’s pine trees.

When he fell into the pot of soup

The little boy kept jumping on his uncle’s back and climbing on his shoulders until the rascal ended up in the massive soup pot. They developed a special bond, Assaad and Anis.

Uncle Anis would repeatedly tell his nephew:

يا اٌسعد الإخلاص اُحلى مْنِ المَديح

بِطيِّبْ الاُنفاسْ وبِيشْفي الجَريح

مْحَبْتَك عَمُواجْ عُمري مْسَجَّلي

مِتل الأمانِة الثابتِة بْدِين المسيح

Before Anis passed away many decades ago, he had forgotten everyone and everything except Assaad and those four verses.

Love: The best memory medicine.

New Year’s Eve 2023

On Dec 31, 2023, at 3:40 am, 51 years and a week after his late wife, he took his last breath. He did well with the cards that life handed him. It was time to stop running. He lived fully. He left peacefully. His family believes he parted content.

Meanwhile in heaven

His earthly friends and family greeted him right outside the gates. I can hear the cracking of dice on the backgammon board. He’s playing with the usual crowd and was able to recruit new contestants, angels included. The Arak is flowing. BBQ and Tabbouleh. Laughs and conversations.

You can see him sitting with former students, debating life and technology. He’s reached out to some of his old students and started surveying heaven. You know, building something up (over) there. Or mapping out heaven? You have to build something. No?