BZU community mourns Dr. Gabi Baramki and declares official mourning

Birzeit University community mourns Dr. Gabi Baramki and declares official mourning from Thursday August 30 until Monday September 3 evening.

Birzeit University Community sadly announces the passing away of one of its most distinguished sons, Dr. Gabi Baramki, on Thursday August 30, 2012, after a lifetime of unstinting, selfless service to University and country.

Dr. Baramki was born in Jerusalem in 1929 and graduated from the Birzeit College in 1946. He earned a Bachelor and a Master degree from the American University in Beirut and a doctorate from McGill University in Canada. In 1954, he began working in the institution that evolved into the Birzeit University and was one of the founders of the University in 1972. From 1974 to 1993, he was the Acting President of the University upon the deportation of the University President, Dr Nasir, by the Israeli Occupation authorities. The period was one of the most difficult experienced by the country. Dr. Baramki led the administration of the University with wisdom, perspicacity, vision and foresight, for it to become world renowned as a citadel of higher learning, enlightenment and national endeavour. He subsequently served until his passing away as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University, and has insisted on carrying out his duties, even in the most difficult  moments of his illness.

Dr. Baramki was one of the founders of the Palestinian Council for Higher Education in 1977, and worked as a consultant to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Palestine for several years. He also played a leading role in the campaign for the academic boycott of Israel.

 Dr. Baramki chronicled his life and times at Birzeit University in his book "Peaceful Resistance: Building a Palestinian University under Occupation” with a preface by former US President Jimmy Carter.

The University has declared official mourning and will launch successively a series of initiatives to celebrate the life of the deceased and his major achievements and perpetuate his memory.

Funeral arrangements as announced by the Family are as follow:

Funeral will take place on Saturday 1/9/2012 at the Orthodox Church in Ramallah at 4:00 pm. Accepting condolences after burial will be in the Latin church hall in Ramallah, and for the next two days will be at Baramki Family's home ( 23 Safa Street  In Al- tirah) from 4.00 pm until 9.00 pm.

 The Family will accept donations for the student fund at Birzeit University  instead of wreaths and posting condolences in the newspapers.