My memories are similar to many immigrants who left home and loved ones to seek a new life in America. I remember well the night when my mother was giving birth to my youngest brother, Shadi. As we huddled in a bedroom in the rear of our home listening to the sounds of war and waiting anxiously for a word from the midwife about our new baby brother or sister, a bomb exploded in front of our home and destroyed its front portion into rubble. We were thankful that no one was killed, and our new baby brother arrived to this world with a big bang. My brothers and I wanted our parents to name our baby brother "Bomb."
Since coming to America, and more specifically Glendale, I have been blessed with an excellent education, a beautiful family, many wonderful friends and a country to call home. I am very thankful for all my blessings, particularly my early education in the Glendale schools.
After graduating from college, I returned to Glendale, taught at Hoover High for 23 years and spent another 12 years as an administrator at Crescenta Valley High. During the past 10 years, I have been a member of the Glendale Board of Education. My life has been incredibly rewarding and gratifying. My late wife, Mary, and my present wife, Lois Neil, were both Glendale teachers, and I have been doubly blessed to have shared and continue to share my life with two beautiful, loving and bright women.
Our children received an excellent education in Glendale, and two served as U.S. Naval officers and the third is a computer engineer.
I am thankful to the Glendale teachers and staff for their friendship, assistance and respect, and I appreciate their commitment to provide my grandchildren with an excellent education.
