With great sorrow and a deep sense of loss, the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem Fund for Education & Community Development announces the passing of Dr. Samih K. Farsoun, a long-time board member and former board secretary of The Jerusalem Fund and its educational program, The Palestine Center.

Dr. Farsoun passed away this morning, Thursday 9 June 2005, in New Buffalo, MI. It is believed that he suffered from a cardiac event. Dr. Farsoun was 68 years old.

Dr. Farsoun, who just recently returned to the United States from his post as Dean of Academic Affairs at the American University of Kuwait (Safat, Kuwait), was formerly professor emeritus at American University (Washington, DC), where he taught for 30 years and served as chair of the Sociology Department for 11 years. Dr. Farsoun was the founding Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of the American University of Sharjah (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates) from 1997-99. In addition to his contribution to the Jerusalem Fund, he was also a founding member of the Trans-Arab Research Institute (Boston, MA).

Before his passing, Dr. Farsoun authored and edited numerous books, articles, and essays on Arab world, its development, and the political economy of the Middle East. In particular, he is known for his latest books Culture and Customs of the Palestinians (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004) and Palestine and the Palestinians (co-authored with Christina Zacharia; Westview Press, 1998). His articles and books have been translated into several languages, including Arabic, Farsi, French, Italian, and German. Dr. Farsoun also published numerous columns in Arabic and English journals and newspapers.

The Fund's Board of Directors and staff send their heartfelt condolences to Dr. Farsoun's wife Katha, daughter Rouwayda, and surviving family. The family will announce information shortly about memorial services for Dr. Farsoun. A memorial service for Dr. Farsoun will be held at the Jerusalem Fund in Washington, DC. Details will be announced at a later date.

Friends and colleagues are invited to post condolences to Dr. Farsoun's family on The Jerusalem Fund website. Condolences will remain viewable to the public for the traditional 40-day period of mourning. For more information, see www.thejerusalemfund.org