To Amie, Nouwar, Saad and Nadie, This is to express the heartfelt condolences especially of myself but also of my family and staff, for the inconsolable loss of your beloved husband, father, brother and son. Ghassan was a valued client and former staff person of our office and a long time personal friend of myself and others in our office. All of the staff especially my daughter Mia and bookkeeper Ana, pass on their condolences too. Ghassan had a life filled with tragedy and unheaval, with the disappearance of his brother and then the decease of his sister, and his exile to Cuba and then Canada. Yet he never displayed bitterness or anger. He was a gentle, kind person, always thinking of others, with outstanding intelligence and a great sense of humor. We fondly remember him teasing the Spanish speaking staff in our office, as he himself spoke Spanish from his time in Cuba. Ghassan would give his opinions about political and personal matters, but always in an amicable, non confrontational way, even if he was saying things that were critical. And so his opinions and ideas were always respected and listened to. Ghassan's devotion and loyalty to his family was absolute. He was heartbroken at the loss of his brother and then of his sister, and yet full of compassion and understanding for the impact that those losses had especially on his mother. I have passed on the news of Ghassam's decease to Sister Maria Van Leeuwen former director of Joseph's House, where Ghassam first stayed when he came to Canada. She was in the United States for the funeral of a family member, and so was unable to attend Ghassam's funeral. She has expressed her deep condolences. Ghassan helped many refugees when they came to London. I am going to make a donation in his memory to the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre, which has recently established a fund for refugees with health care access difficulties. I will miss Ghassam very much. Michael Loebach
