Dr. John A. Abdun-Nur

ABDUN-NUR, Dr. John A. (82); Valley Physician Dr. John A. Abdun-Nur, Tarzana physician for over 40 years, and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away on January 31, 2008 after an extended illness. He was 82 years old. Born in Hollywood, California in 1925, John graduated from Hollywood High School to the University of Southern California at the young age of 16. He was a pre-med student and football player prior to enlisting in the Navy in 1944 where he served his country as a gunnery officer and lieutenant on board the cruiser U.S.S. Birmingham. After the war, while waiting to attend USC's medical school, John fell in love with and married Margaret Sarah Haddad in 1949. He and his bride headed for Beirut, Lebanon where he completed two years of medical school at the American University of Beirut. He then returned to Los Angeles where he completed his medical degree in 1954 at the University of Southern California School of Medicine and began his career as a General Practitioner. During his years as a physician, he delivered over 4,500 babies each of whom he cherished as a miracle and gift from God. Never hesitant to make a house call or answer an emergency whether it was at his front door step or the hospital, Dr. John defined compassionate committed medical care. In his distinguished career, Dr. John was Chief of Staff at three local hospitals: Encino Hospital, West Valley Hospital and Tarzana Hospital. In 1980, he was elected President of the USC Medical Alumni Association. A year later he was elected President of Salerni Collegium. In this position he dedicated himself to the advancement of the USC School of Medicine. Dr. John was especially committed to working with young people who sustained injuries in sports. He donated many hours to Pierce Jr. College's rodeo riders and football players. He also volunteered countless hours as a physician in the 1970's and 1980's to many of USC's athletes and coaches. Dr. John's commitment to young people did not end with medical care but continued over the years as he inspired and advised young athletes and patients to experience the fullness of life. Dr. John and his wife went on to endow the Team Physician position at USC. Dr. John inspired all five of his children to follow in his footsteps and graduate with a multitude of degrees from the University. In 1993, USC awarded Dr. John the Alumni Service Award. This award recognizes outstanding volunteer efforts on behalf of the university. The years he spent developing his medical practice in Tarzana inspired a dream to develop the land around him in his hometown. He wanted to see medicine continue to serve the valley community through the development of a medical center close to the hospital where he worked for so many years. His dream came true in the 1970's when he developed Tarzana Square. Beyond his commitment to medicine and his family, he also loved a variety of sports. Whether he was a spectator or participant, he surrounded himself with football, basketball, tennis, swimming, horses, and especially golf. His volunteering of time and support to young golfers on the USC Golf Team lead to his selection to the USC Golf Coaches Council. By all those close to him, he will be remembered and loved for the generosity, compassion, and resolve he brought to his family, his country, his friends, and his patients. Dr. John always said: "With God, family, and country...these are all that one needs." John is survived by his wife, Margaret, to whom he was married for 58 years, his five children and their families, and his sister Odette Peters. A funeral service will be held at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Los Angeles at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8, 2008. The address is 2300 West 3rd Street. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Dr. John's church or a charity he has supported since its inception. The church is an important part of Dr. John's family history. Both his father and father-in-law were original parishioners and generously donated the necessary resources and time to assist in building the church in the 1950's. Memorial gifts can be mailed to: St. Nicholas Cathedral, 2300 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, California, 90057. The charity, the "Physically Challenged Athlete's Scholarship", provides scholarships for advanced education to help athletes who have suffered a serious accident or an illness so that they might overcome their tragedies and realize their full potential. The memorial gifts can be addressed to "Swim with Mike" or "Physically Challenged Athlete's Scholarship," Attention- Ron Orr, Heritage Hall, Los Angeles, California, 90089-0602.