Tanas N. Halabi

Tanas N. Halabi

After a heroic battle with heart and kidney disease, Tanas N. Halabi, better known as Tony, passed away on April 25, 2017.

Born on August 11, 1939 in Jerusalem, Palestine, Tony was the second of five children born to Jamil and Katrina Halaby. His father’s death and the dismantling of Palestine and the dispossession of her indigenous people were two events that helped shape his character. The son of a prominent Jerusalem family whose fortunes changed as a result of the 1948 War, at the age of 13 Tony decided to help his widowed mother and siblings by selling Eskimo Ice Cream bars in West Jerusalem’s only theater, and eventually he would spend summers working on construction sites, shoveling and hauling sand, cement, and mortar. After graduating from The Nazareth, Palestine-based Terra Sancta boarding school for boys, Tony moved to Beirut, Lebanon, to attend the American University of Beirut. Upon his graduation, he travelled to Frankfurt, Germany, and began working for Middle East Airlines, a Lebanese-based airline.

On July 31, 1965 Tony married Nuhad Mudawar, the daughter of acclaimed

Nuhad and Tony

Lebanese playwright, poet, and teacher. His transfer to Benghazi, Libya, was the first of several promotions, with appointments as area manager in Milano, Italy and Vienna, and Austria.  In 1976, Tony and Nuhad moved to Redwood Shores, CA, whereupon he and his younger brother, Ramzy, established Custom Woodworks Mfg.(later joined by brother David) which went on to become one of the most successful cabinet and furniture enterprises in the South San Francisco Bay Area. In 1999, Tony and Nuhad retired to the Greater Seattle area to be closer to their sons.

Tony and Nuhad have three sons, Jimmy (Michele) and Nadim of the Greater Seattle Area, and Fareed (Daria) of Beirut, Lebanon, and grandchildren Brandy, Heather, Mary, Leila, Alexton, and Kira. Tony was preceded in death by his brothers David and Ramzy; he is survived by his sister Beatrice Halaby of Hot Springs, AR, and a brother, Raouf Halaby (Rachel) of Arkadelphia, AR, and several nephews and nieces.

“Others before self” is a phrase that best describes Tony.  No matter where he resided, Tony’s childhood and life experiences were guided by his deep spiritual convictions and his adhering to Holy texts which admonish us to help the hungry, the weak, the orphaned, the wounded, and the dispossessed. He lived by the motto that the strangers and less fortunate amongst us deserve a helping hand and a welcoming embrace. No matter where he lived, Tony and his wife were active in their churches, he serving in various advisory roles, and she singing in the choir and helping with their churches’ benevolent activities.

For his dedication and commitment to USOMEN (United States Overseas Medical Educational Needs) and for his helping raise millions of dollars to help many worthy charitable organizations at home and abroad, on March 6, 1999, San Francisco’s Mayor, Willie Brown, Jr., issued a Proclamation which reads, in part:  “WHEREAS the City and County of San Francisco traditionally honors individuals and organizations  that have achieved excellence, and/  WHEREAS, I am proud to commend Tanas N. Halabi for his years of service to USOMEN, a humanitarian organization, and for his commitment and dedication to our beloved City;/  WHEREAS he has set an example for future leaders to follow and his  effectiveness exemplifies the importance of community involvement,/  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that I, Willie Brown, Jr., mayor of the City and County of San Francisco, commend Tanas Halabi and do hereby proclaim March 6, 1999 as Tanas Halaby Day in San Francisco.”

The schedule for the Funeral Service of our beloved, departed brother Tony Halabi will be held as follows:

1-      The Funeral Service will take place at Saint Matthews Catholic Church in Lake City; 1240 127 St. Seattle, WA 98125 next Monday, May 1, 2017 at 12:30 pm.

 

2-       The Graveside Burial (Funeral)Service will follow the Church Service immediately at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery 205 NE 205th St. Shoreline, WA 98155 at 2:30pm.

 

3-       The Mercy Meal will follow the Graveside Burial Service at Saint Matthews Community Center in Lake City at 3:30 pm at the same previously mentioned address.

At the request of the Halabi Family, please submit donations to St. Johns Melkite Church in lieu of flowers.