Naim Tahan M.D.

NAIM TAHAN, M.D.

Dr. Naim Tahan passed away early Monday, October 17, 2005, at the age of 83. Naim was born in Tripoli, Lebanon to George and Maleke Tahan on November 13, 1921. As a toddler he moved with his parents and younger brother Nicolas to Nogalas, AZ. His brothers, Victor and Edmund were born a few years later. The Tahans later moved to Tucson, AZ. Naim's early years were spent studying hard and spending time after school in his parents' store. He attended Tucson High School were he enjoyed studying astronomy. After high school, he attended the University of Arizona where he graduated with a degree in Zoology. Naim served in the U.S. Army during WWII. His proficiency in languages kept him off the battlefield and in with the Italian prisoners serving as a translator and guard. Following the war, Naim attended Duke University School of Medicine. After graduating from Duke in 1952, Dr. Tahan did his internship in Los Angeles then moved to the Fresno area to start a medical practice as a general practitioner. In 1959, while in Lebanon on a trip with his parents, he met and married Helen Prince. Naim and Helen settled in Fresno and one year later their first child, Mary, was born. Naim and Helen have four daughters and six grandchildren who love their "Jeddo" very much. Naim's free time over the years was spent traveling with his wife and children, swimming and reading. Dr. Tahan was a beloved physician and 50 year member of the Fresno-Madera Medical Society. In the early years of his career, he practiced in Caruthers with his brother Dr. Victor Tahan and then started his own practice in Calwa. In 1970, he opened the Sunnyside Professional Center, where he practiced until his retirement in 1995. Colleagues and patients fondly remember Dr. Tahan as a great story teller and a genuinely kind man. He spoke four languages and took special pleasure in speaking Spanish to his patients and colleagues. Since his retirement, he enjoyed seeing former patients around town. He was always greeted with a smile and kind words usually ending with "....there's just no one like you." Naim was also an active member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church serving on the Parish Council and in the Order of AHEPA. He was especially proud to be chosen Father of the Year by his church in 1995. Beloved husband, father, grandfather and physician, he will be remembered for his kindness, his love of people and his great stories. He is survived by Helen, his wife of 46 years; daughters, Mary Marin and her husband David, and their children Laura and Sarah of Fresno, Dr. Carla Tahan Gigoux and her husband Claude, and their children, Michael and Christina of West Hills, Elissa Altamirano and her children, Andreas and Julia of Fresno and Gigi Tahan of Fresno. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Victor Tahan and his wife Darlee of Madera, and Edmund Tahan of Fresno. Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Chapel on Thursday, October 20, 2005, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a Trisagion Service at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church on Friday, October 21, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Belmont Memorial Park. Remembrances may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church or the charity of your choice. WHITEHURSTSullivan, Burns & Blair Chapel1525 E. Saginaw (559)227-4048