Ten years after my beloved brother Basil’s passing I can still remember that morning in the U.S., when amid the business of the morning rush to work and school on Feb. 14, 2005, we heard the NPR news mention a big explosion in Beirut. It was already afternoon in Beirut. The report was vague but ominous. The phone call that followed corroborated my worst fears. Basil survived the blast that took the life of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and many others, however, after a valiant struggle and the best efforts of the medical community, my brother succumbed to his injuries on April 18 that year.
Basil and I grew up in Beirut in a small nuclear family surrounded by many cousins, second cousins and friends with whom we still share dear memories of that idyllic childhood and the games we played during our summers in the mountains and at the beach. With time, our friendship grew stronger and continued on, growing across continents in spite of the Civil War that forced us to live in distant places. Basil never waivered to play his role as brother and uncle to my three daughters by keeping in touch and visiting as much as possible. When he and Yasma became parents to two beautiful children, I could feel his deep pride and love for his own family.
From an early age, Basil had strong opinions and the confidence to express and defend them. His sharp mind thrived, encouraged by our parents, who had a profound respect for our thinking and points of view. His devotion to Lebanon was clear from a very early age when, barely 7, he made the case for the necessity of our family returning to Lebanon after my father was offered the opportunity to continue his medical career in the United States. Such was Basil’s love for his country. It brought my father back to Lebanon, where we continued our schooling and later steered Basil toward his career choice.
Throughout his short life, Basil distinguished himself with his strong sense of fairness and justice and an ability to bring people together. He loved life and laughter and never missed an opportunity to tease. He loved his friends and family, who all respected him and loved him back. Mostly he believed in fairness for all regardless of their religion, gender or race. He had a skill to solve problems in order to achieve harmony and happiness among a group of people, be it family, friends or co-workers. His sense of humor and optimism put people at ease and paved the way to surmount obstacles. This undoubtedly helped his career in government where he worked to make a difference in people’s lives and help in the economic recovery of Lebanon.
Even though Basil was my younger brother, I looked up to him, literally, for he always made sure to point out the two extra inches that nature gave him over me and figuratively, as he approached life with optimism, humor, courage, love and passion. His loss has left a huge gap among his family, friends and colleagues. I am comforted seeing his personality and intellect expressed in his beautiful children, Rayna and Rayan.
“Dear Basil, although your life was cut short by a ruthless and criminal act, you demonstrated all the qualities of true leadership and achieved more than many of us can dream of. You have touched and enriched our lives and your example will continue to inspire us and give us strength. We miss you dearly; your smile will not fade from our memory; your light shines brightly in your beautiful children, Rayna and Rayan and in all our hearts.”
Your Loving Brother Ramsay
Dr. Ramsay Fuleihan is a professor in pediatrics-allergy and immunology living in Chicago, United States.
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