The Inauguration of Yacoub Saba Haddad’s Physics Laboratory

Ya c o u b S a b a H a d d a d (1916-1992) touched the life of many of us. We remember him fondly as a great teacher, father and friend. In 1938, Yacoub graduated with a bachelor of Arts in Engineering from the American University of Beirut.

He taught physics to a total of more than 4000 students. He taught at International College, Beirut (1949-1981) and authored the Baccalaureate physics text-books. He had also taught in Beshmezzine, N. Lebanon (Madrasat Beshmizzine Al-Aliya) and Jerusalem, Palestine (Al-Kulliya Al-Arabia and S ahyoun Institute). Yacoub was married to Juliet Tadros (1926-1990) and had four children (Aida, May, Imad and Nabil). Yacoub enjoyed reading/ writing and translations. He was a master in Chess and used to be a football player.

The Inauguration of Yacoub Saba Haddad’s Physics Laboratory

Rockfeller hall International College Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday 12 April 2016

More than 70 friends and students of Yacoub Saba Haddad participated in the inauguration of Yacoub Saba Haddad physics laboratory at Rockfeller Hall in International College on Tuesday April 12 2016. The inauguration was followed with a welcome reception at Martin's House (president's house) in IC. Sp e c i a l t h an k s t o Nab i l Ha d d a d w h o m a d e t h i s possible ♼ This document is compiled

by May Haddad 21 4 16

Nabil Haddad’s word https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u5ZZNZ70UE

When I was young I perceived my father as “just another teacher”. Raising four kids on a 315LL a month was not an easy task. He could only provide us with basic life necessities in a loving and humble home. Thanks to IC benefits, the four of us received education at a discount formula of “buy one get the other three free!”

I once asked him why does he not teach private lessons to make extra income. “It is unethical, improper and absolutely not necessary” he responded.

Sitting in his class he solved the same problem over and over and in so many ways that he ensured the dumbest in class would get it! He always tossed in a couple of jokes to keep the rest of the class entertained and focused. His creative teaching methods coupled with his pleasant character created a unique teacher/ student eternal bond.

Whenever we went out in the public, it always seemed that someone popped out of the blue, and shouted with joy: “Mr. Haddad”! They were IC alumni most of whom were famous, rich and successful. These cheerful alumni recollected the good times at school and in class.

I could immediately observe the pride on his face as he smiled. He would then turn to us and say: “He was my student”!

One day I dared to ask him: “what do we get out of all of this”. His face shrugged, as if I spoke words of blasphemy; it then struck me that he was an educator and not a teacher. He is one of those rare mentors whose mission in life was not limited to teaching Newton’s laws of Physics, but rather to raise a responsible successful generation who would rebuild our nation based on knowledge, justice, equality, forgiveness and fraternity.

This is how he summarized his life mission in his final retirement speech while addressing the 1981 graduating class.

Today I can only envisage his smile of fulďŹ lment as we are gathered here: his students, colleagues, friends, children and grandchildren, to honor and celebrate the life of Yacoub Saba Haddad. Looking at your faces now, I can only see his contagious smile, for he has succeeded to touch and inspire each one of us with his ideals, values and unconditional love.

Posted at the event’s page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1172795426079077/

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Comments by students and friends TORCH’s dedication 1981 Photos from IC TORCH Cartoons from IC TORCH The Kingly Man (Chuang Tsu poem translated by Yacoub Saba Haddad 1991-1992)