LDSS grad publishes book about Lebanese roots

By Mark Ribble

WINDSOR — Jim Nehmetallah was born in Tourza, Lebanon in 1961 and came to Canada in 1967 as a six-year-old when his family settled in Leamington.

The graduate of Leamington District Secondary School went on to St. Clair College, The University of Detroit and Queens University as well.

He gave up his career in mechanical engineering to pursue a career as a secondary school teacher in Windsor.

About 15 years ago, Nehmetallah began a search for his great-grandmother, who was also from Tourza, but left the village to escape from a bad marriage and make a new life along the shores of the Detroit River.

“What began as a personal project about my own family’s history, soon became a massive genealogical undertaking,” he said.

Over those 15 years, Nehmetallah managed to trace the family trees of everyone who came from Tourza, including those who stayed and those who left the village in the Holy Valley.

JIM NEHMETALLAH

“Along the way, I have collected an oral history of the place — it’s stories, legends, and Maronite saints,” he said.

Also along the way, he’s compiled and published a book called ‘Finding Susan: From Tourza to Detroit.’

Nehmetallah has been married for 36 years and they have four children. They are part of a large extended family and he is proud of his Lebanese-Canadian roots.

He has developed a passion for genealogy through this project and is enjoying helping others explore their roots.

Finding Susan: From Tourza to Detroit is available at https://jimnehmetallahgenealogyinc. square.site/ or by contacting Jim directly at 226-260-0321. He is offering a discount for Father’s Day.