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About
Hanna KASSIS Obituary
Dr. Hanna Kassis was born in Gaza, Palestine. He earned his B.A. at the American University of Beirut, and his PhD at Harvard University. In 1964 he began a 33 year teaching career at UBC in the Department of Religious Studies. He was revered by students and colleagues for his warmth, inspiring teaching and profound knowledge. He had a particular passion for connecting people of different faiths and backgrounds.
He died peacefully with his loving wife Anne, daughter Magdalena, and son Omar at his side. He is survived by a large extended family who loved him dearly.
Heartfelt thanks go to the wonderful and caring staff at Point Grey Private Hospital, where he spent the last 2 years of his life.
Funeral service will be held at Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, corner of Burrard and Georgia Streets, Vancouver, Tuesday April 10th, 2:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Covenant House Vancouver or Doctors Without Borders.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
23 Entries
Brenda Clark
February 14, 2022
I was a student of Dr. Kassis in the 1980's, an Art History major, and then Architecture. I loved every minute of his lectures on Ancient Near Eastern art, especially Egypt and the Hittites. One of my favourite life memories was walking on the roof of the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, a magical moment for which he was responsible. I am very sad to hear of his passing. He was a wonderful professor and person and he had a profound influence on my life.
tia gonzales
April 2, 2019
a year has passed....i recently found myself in the Moroccan desert somewhere and we stopped at a medieval library, all Arab texts, and i remembered how Dr. Kassis guided me through my study of the Arab Aristotelians (Averroes, Avicenna, al farabi, al ghazali) and taught me much about the dissemination of knowledge between the Greek, Arab and Latin worlds...he was a fine Professor....
Jean-Pierre GUINHUT
June 9, 2018
with deep condoleances I wish to express my immense respect for late Dr KASSIS whose works and life were an exemple of holiness for all believers
jean-pierre guinhut
retired French ambassador and orientalist researcher
tia gonzales
April 21, 2018
he imbued in me a love of Islam for which i am grateful....he was a fine Professor (Med. St. early '80's)
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Oliver Gilbert
April 18, 2018
Dear Anne, Magdalena & Omar : I was saddened to hear of Hanna's passing. And sorry that I missed his service at Christ Church Cathedral. As young men, Omar, we would joke about our academic fathers, their tweed suit jackets with leather arm patches and their peculiar scholarly lives, but we won the birth lottery. There could be no finer upbringing than the one they provided. Rest in peace, Hanna Kassis.
GUS & NAHID THAISS
April 14, 2018
Dory Cameron
April 13, 2018
I studied with Professor Kassis in the 70s. It is impossible to say just how brilliant and kind he was to me. Back then, he cast a light into my heart. He made everything shine.
Karin Fulcher
April 12, 2018
I was a student of Dr. Kassis in the early 1990's. He was delightful and most helpful and I learned so much from him. May he rest in peace, and may his family be comforted in their grief
Margaret Sherwood
April 12, 2018
I had the honour and pleasure of being in his class in 1980's. He was an inspiration to me and instilled in me a passion for inter-faith dialogue.
I remember fondly when we were invited to a reception for the Saudi pavilion at Expo 86.
Also his lecture series at Sorrento centre.
April 12, 2018
Hanna was an inspiration to me and to so many who have ears to hear to the Palestinian story and struggle.
William Roberts
Heather Watt
April 11, 2018
To the family of Dr.Kassis -
I was and am especially grateful for having been a pupil in Dr Kassis's Classical Arabic course and Islamic Studies seminars. It was a joy to be a part of the small Religious Studies Department where we all knew each other and Dr. Kassis played such a large and exerberant part. He pushed us hard to be uncompromising and dig up our very best .
His teaching changed my life profoundly. I studied at a time when Arabic and Islamic Studies was considered frivolous with no revelance to the world. Dr.Kassis was always our lightening rod.
So ya Hanna,
God be with you, and upon you be peace.
Doug Jameson
April 11, 2018
Dear Anne, Lena and Omar, please accept my sincerest condolences. Anne, I am forever grateful for the friendship and support you and Hanna offered me when I was teaching Our Wild Child (that's you, Omar!) at L'Ecole bilingue. Lena, your father and I shared a passion for the organ and its literature. I know he was very proud of your musical accomplishments. Hanna was able to enrich many peoples lives and bridge cultures. I am blessed to have had all of you cross my path over the years.
April 10, 2018
I have very fond memories of Dr. Kassis. I took a night school class with him in the mid-1970s. It was a Religious Studies course, but it was more about the art & architecture of the Middle East. As I was a fine arts major, I found it most enjoyable. He was a delightful, engaging teacher who obviously loved his work. He remained one of my favourite professors from my time at UBC.
Carole (Wisdom) Goldsmith
Renee Switzer
April 10, 2018
I was one of Dr. Kassis' students in Religious Studies at UBC in the early 1970's. He was a very fine teacher who, when I think about my years at UBC, I have always remembered with a smile. Someone with Dr. Kassis knowledge, compassion and understanding of religions is so very important for society. My sincerest condolences.
April 10, 2018
Anne, Magdalena & Omar - Terry & I were so very sorry to learn of Hanna's passing & wish to extend our sincere condolences for your loss. We recall the few times we met with the Sturgess family how kind & gentle a person he was. He will be cherished & missed by all those who knew him.
Joan McGiveron nee Spouse
Ellen Baragon
April 10, 2018
It's been many years since I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Kassis. To know him was to admire and adore the man; for his grace, his intellect, humour and tolerance including some of the students who surely would have challenged a less patient man! I was one.. Sincere condolences to his family.
Susan Soux
April 9, 2018
Dear Anne, I was saddened to hear of Hanna's passing. Although it has been too many years since we spent time together I frequently remembered Hanna and the times we shared with my family; also his kind and sage advice during my time at UBC.Our world needs more people like Hanna - open, caring, intelligent and fun loving. My heart goes out to you and the children. Susan Soux (McFetridge)
Stefania ciccone
April 9, 2018
My most sincere condolences to Hanna's family and also to all those who, like me, have had the fortune to know him and admire him.
Stefania Ciccone
April 9, 2018
I was in Hanna's Islam class in the 1970s at UBC. A classy, dignified and highly intelligent man, who highlighted the best of Islam. He also supported my work, sometimes behind the scenes, as I wrote about religion at The Vancouver Sun. He made a special contribution to this world. Peace, Douglas Todd
Mikey Hamre
April 9, 2018
Dear Anne, my sincerest condolences to you and your family....old friends remain Friends and with our Rossland connections and our Fun at UBC...take good care of yourself.Much Love Mikey Chataway Hamre
Craig Laronge
April 7, 2018
Sincere condolences to Magdalena and family on the passing of your father. He was a very well respected teacher at UBC.
Janos
April 7, 2018
"finding the right words"? There are none right, only sad ones and hopes/wishes to all of you to be strong and trusting in your faith that all is well as the Lord wants it...
(In Google pix for Hanna, almost all are with me. Now I am left here...) Maybe after 2 years in half-life was enough? A great life behind and I am sure, CEU MedStud will not forget him either. We are with you!
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