Malek Lahhoud

was born 1938 in Khreibat, Syria. He grew up among the fabled olive groves of the beautiful mountainside village of Khreibat, on the outskirts of Tartous.

Upon completing high school in his beloved Khreibat, he moved to Damascus to study law in the Law University of Damascus.

Malek served as an officer in the Syrian Army from 1965 to 1973. He saw combat with an anti-aircraft company on the Jabal Al Sheikh front in the War of Tishreen, after which he retired from military life but continued in the public sector, serving 35 years in Syria's Ministry of Finance. He retired as that ministry's Director of Foreign Debt after a lifetime of devoted public service.

Malek first visited the US for three months in 1987 as a representative to the International Monetary Fund. He moved to the US in 1997 with his wife Lousia, nee Yaghmour, to whom he was wed in 1968.

Malek suffered from medical issues, including asthma, for much of his life. He struggled with late-stage cancer from its discovery in Summer 2010 until his passing at 5:30 PM on February 9th, 2012, the day of Saint Maroun.

He is survived by Lousia, their 3 children Dora, born 1970, and twins Elie and Eyad, born 1971, as well as grandchildren Malek and John, born to Eyad in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

He is remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, a kind and caring friend, and a delight to all who were blessed to know him.

Arrangements under the direction of Resthaven Park Mortuary & Cemetery, Phoenix, AZ.