Americans of Lebanese Descent from Tupper Lake, New York Visit LERC
Wednesday 23rd September 2009, LERC, NDU
Reported by Elie Nabhan
The Lebanese Emigration Research Center was delighted to welcome on their first visit to NDU Mr. Kozhaya Akiki and Mr. Jack Maroun of Tupper Lake, New York, USA.
LERC Director Ms. Guita Hourani met with the two visitors and introduced them to the objectives and work of the Center. She then discussed with them the work of Mr. Jack Maroun on the Lebanese of Tupper Lake.
Mr. Maroun, who was a college professor of management, began writing a series entitled the Tupper Lake Lebanese Descendants Series. This series is “a genealogic representation of the original families that migrated to America from Lebanon and eventually settled in Tupper Lake, New York… The series include numerous newspaper clippings, stories and photographs to assist in understanding the lives and events that affected and designed the lives of the immigrants and their descendants.”
Mr. Maroun has already published two books in the series: Tupper Lake Lebanese: Abdallah Khalil family and Tupper Lake Lebanese: Maroun Salamy Family.
Mr. Akiki, who was a teacher as well, was born in Lebanon and moved to the US in 1959 after marrying Nora Maroun an American of Lebanese descent, and settled in Tupper Lake as well. Mr. Akiki is a very active member of the Lebanese community. He is the author of The Life of Saint Ephrem: Harp of the Holy Spirit and the translator of three books: Blessed Nimatullah Kassab Al-Hardini, The Life of Saint Rafqa and the Life and Spirituality of St Sharbel.
Mr. Akiki (right) with Mr. Maroun at the Lebanon and Migration Museum at NDU on their visit to LERC (Sept 2009).Following their meeting with Director Hourani, the visitors were then given a presentation of LERC’s electronic archives and database by Ms. Basma Abdul Khalek, and were taken on a tour of the Lebanon and Migration Museum at NDU by Mr. Elie Nabhan.
Mr. Maroun thanked LERC for the presentation and tour, having been impressed by his introduction to the Center, while Mr. Akiki was pleased to “reconnect with Ms. Hourani”, wishing her all the best for “doing a great job and wonderful service.”
