Benjamin Tamer Hourani, age 85, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2020.
Ben was born on April 17, 1934 to parents Tamer and Fadwa (Chammas) Hourani and raised in Deir Mimas, Lebanon with his four older siblings: Jacob, Ramiz, Joseph, and Josephine. In 1960, Ben came to the United States to complete his PhD in political science at Michigan State University. While attending MSU, Ben met Dolores Youngs who became his wife in 1964. Shortly after their wedding, the two moved to New York as Ben accepted a teaching position at City University of New York. Together, Ben and Dolores had three children: Philip, Najib, and Adnan. Eventually, the Hourani’s moved back to Michigan where Ben would take a position at Eastern Michigan University where he taught for over 30 years.
He was an avid reader, enjoyed philosophy, and had an appreciation for the arts. Ben was a futurist and enjoyed studying how aspects new technology could impact the future. After retirement, Ben looked to nature and found interest in flowers. He would often send photos of flowers he found unique or interesting to friends and family to enjoy and pass along to others. Though he had many interests, his family was what he was most proud of.
Ben was predeceased by his parents, Tamer and Fadwa; and his brothers who he deeply missed, Jacob and Ramiz.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dolores; his children, Philip Benjamin (Mary Jane), Najib Benjamin (Lisa), and Adnan Benjamin (Patricia); his grandchildren, Benjamin Philip, Nicholas Alexander, Miya Vasiliki, Jonah Adnan, and Tamer Adnan; and one great-grandchild, Alexander Nicholas.
Memorial contributions can be made in Ben’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Doctors Without Borders.
https://www.stjude.org/donate/legacy.html?frequency_selected=2&legacypid=&memoryFirstName=Benjamin&memoryLastName=Hourani&sc_cid=ptn1
https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.cfm?source=ADD200U0U17&utm_source=legacy&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=legacy2020&utm_content=clio
Ben would encourage his friends and family to “keep strong” and “love the world.”