Michel Salameh

Here comes Dr. Mike.  This is what we would say when Michel Salameh pulled in to our driveway.  Michel Salameh was a father, a mentor and a friend.  He was a witty man always ready to comment and answer with an anecdote from the plethora of Arabic poetry that he knew.

The prefix in his name was not because he was a doctor.  Not literally at least.  People called him Dr. because he owned and ran a medical testing lab.  He often made house visits to draw and collect blood from patients.

Michel Salameh had a keen mind and was never afraid to state his opinion despite the consequences that may occur.  Hs education made him a strong advocate of science, an attitude that more than often put him in difficult situations knowing the highly polarized religious society that Lebanon has.

I was saddened this morning to learn that Michel Salameh died last night, New Years Eve, in his warm bed in Roumieh, Lebanon.

I can feel the void he left behind.  In a sea of men with minds as strong as marshmallows, blinded by religious strife and social bigotry, Michel Salameh was a strong and solid paradigm of kindness, humanity and reason.

He shall be missed dearly.