DEARBORN — Known for his gregarious personality and ever-present smile, Mohamed Jaber left an indelible impact on the communities in which he lived, from Michigan to his native Lebanon.
A family man, award-winning journalist and founder of the local Assabeel magazine, Jaber died this past Monday due to complications from dementia.
On Tuesday, January 22, family and community mourners joined together at the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights to mourn him, prior to his burial at Islamic Memorial Gardens in Westland.
While his memory began to leave him in his latter days, the countless memories he shared with family, friends and the many communities he covered will live on.
“My father left imprints on everyone’s hearts wherever he went,” Jaber’s daughter Sarah Moussawl said, “because he treats everyone with love and respect and that is what is received in return.”
Jaber, a former writer for The Arab American News, moved to the U.S. from Lebanon in 1990 and started his own magazine three years later.
He could often be seen documenting events in the Arab American community and socializing with everyone from local and foreign political dignitaries to government officials to everyday people in the community.
“He was a humble man who treated young and old, rich and poor alike,” Moussawl said. “He had an infectious smile and a booming laugh that lit up any room he walked into. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.”
Jaber fell ill with dementia roughly two years ago and suffered about six of seven mini strokes over the years according to his doctors, his son Adham said.
Despite his medical hardships, Adham Jaber said his father was known for his intelligence and ability to “talk circles around anybody” thanks to his many years as a professional journalist both in Dearborn and Lebanon, where he graduated from Lebanese University in Beirut.
Jaber was placed in hospice on Christmas Eve, before the disease finally began robbing him of the ability to speak. Adham Jaber said he was able to share many close moments with his father prior to his passing even despite the hardships.
“To him I was the man, but to me he was right up there with God,” Adham Jaber said. “He was loved; and overseas he was bigger than life. I could never repay him for everything he did.”
Mohamed Jaber and his wife, Ayda.
Following Jaber’s passing, several community organizations offered condolences and commemorative messages.
“Sincere condolences to the family of the Journalist Mohamed Jaber and to the entire Lebanese Community… May his soul rest in peace,” wrote the Consulate General of Lebanon in Detroit.
“His heart was characterized by the elegance, elegance and elegance, and this was part of his endearing personality, blood, which had a great impact on his colleagues and friends,” wrote the Lebanese Press Editors Association.
Jaber is survived by his wife, Ayda, children, Adham, Nancy, Sarah and Lois, and six grandchildren.
“There is a saying that goes ‘he who has children, does not die,’” a message written by his children on Facebook read. “Rest Easy, Baba. Your legacy lives on through us.”
Isbouh commemoration services will be held at the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights on Saturday, January 26 from 5-7 p.m.
A tribute video in Arabic from the What’s Up Media Network can be viewed below.
ﻭﺳﻴﻈﻞ ﺇﺳﻤﻚ ﻣﺤﻔﻮﺭﺍً ﻓﻲ ﺫﺍﻛﺮﺓ ﺍﻟﺸﺮﻓﺎﺀ ..
وثائقي عن المرحوم الصحافي، محمد جابر، تخليداً لذكراه و وفاءً لتفانيه في خدمة الجالية و بلده من فريق عمل موقع شو الأخبارThe American Lebanese community mourns the untimely loss of award-winning Lebanese American journalist Mohamed Jaber, publisher and editor-in-chief of مجلة السبيل and longtime advisor to Lebanon Prime Minister Dr. Salim El Hoss.Mohamed Yousef Jaber was a journalist originally from Lebanon. Mr. Jaber became a journalist while he was still in high school. During this time, he would alert newspapers and other news outlets about student functions and issues. He learned everything about what it means to be a journalist; reporting, getting sources, finding out what was necessary to make a story, while he was continuing his studies. At this time, he worked for the newspaper “Al-Mouhrer.” This coincided with the beginning of the Lebanese war in 1973. He obtained a degree in Faculty of Law and Political Science at the Lebanese University in Beirut, Lebanon.It didn't take long for him to discover that journalism was his true passion and shortly after graduating, he freelanced as a reporter for several news outlets, among them were ‘Beirut’ and “Al-Youm.” He finally secured a post at the much lauded Al-Liwaa Newspaper, and he went on to become Managing Editor of the paper for a decade. He also had the first radio show dedicated solely to students and educational issues at the official Lebanese radio station and then made his way to official news outlet for the Lebanese Ministry of Media. Jaber worked as a media attaché at the Ministry of Education with several notable Ministers: Boutros Harb, Issam Khouri, and eventually Dr. Salim El Hoss (at the time, El-Hoss was Minister of Education).With the unfortunate passing of former Prime Minister Rashid Karami, Dr. El-Hoss went on to become the PM of Lebanon and Jaber became his media advisor. As media advisor to Dr. El-Hoss, Jaber accompanied the PM on several trips and conferences held in many Arabic and European countries. Jaber’s last trip with Dr. El-Hoss was to the United Nations in New York.In 1990, Jaber emmigrated to the United States and settled in Dearborn, Michigan. He immediately began working at different media outlets (print, radio, and television) in Michigan. He also freelanced for local newspapers and appeared in other media outlets until he started his own magazine, “Al-Sabeel” in 1992. At this time, Jaber also hosted a local Arab language television show (Lebanese American TV) which broadcast from and in Dearborn. The television show was closed due to the influx of the wide variety of Arabic TV stations that became accessible with the emergence of satellite broadcasting.Jaber continued to publish “Al-Sabeel” (also known as “The Best Way”) as a monthly publication. The magazine covered local news and events, especially those pertaining to Arab-Americans in Michigan. Although it covered mainly the Arab-American community in Michigan, the magazine was circulated throughout many cities and states across the country.
Posted by What's Up Media Network on Monday, January 21, 2019
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