Sameer Abdallah Jubran

Sameer Abdallah Jubran , age 75, of Louisville, Tennessee passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center of lung and heart failure after defeating lung cancer twice over the last seven years. His strong will and faith allowed him to bear his illnesses with courage, determination, and dignity. He is now in God’s hands, smiling down on us all. The family wishes to express their great appreciation to the wonderfully caring and dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff at U.T. Hospital. Sameer’s fun, warm, loving spirit will be greatly missed by his family and friends, and by all who came to know him. He was born September 29, 1934 in his dearly loved Ramallah, Palestine, and raised as an Orthodox Christian, he immigrated to the United States in 1952. He served proudly in the U.S. Army and was a Korean War Veteran. He returned to Ramallah in 1963 to find and marry his beloved wife Renee, who then first settled with him in the Detroit, Michigan area for 12 years. Joining his extended family, they then moved with their three daughters, Nada, Mona, and Samyah to Knoxville in 1975. The rolling hills and hospitable people of East Tennessee made him feel comfortable, as if he was still in the land of his birth. He first owned and operated Jay's Market in North Knoxville, and later founded and operated Sam's Party Store and the Falafel Hut in the U.T. area for 25 years. Sameer, affectionately known to so many as Sam, was a lovable, honest, hardworking man who was dedicated to his family and to his Palestinian cultural heritage, while he exhibited a love and friendship with his entire extended Ramallah, Palestine family. With his wife Renee, he was a generous host whose many guests literally walked over his welcome mat that said “All of our guests make us happy.” Often the life of the party and ready with a quick quip, he embraced the U.T. students and community, the Vols, and the Lady Vols with an ardent and fun-filled spirit. Not merely a jovial jokester, he never forgot his roots and was a serious, educated, thoughtful, and passionate defender of the aspirations of the people of his birthplace. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Abdallah and Julia, of Ramallah, Palestine, and his stepmother Zakia, of Knoxville; his brothers Jubran of Beirut, Lebanon, Farid of Louisville, Tennessee, and George of Farmington Hills, Michigan, and his sister Nada Jubran Habiby of Nazareth, Israel. Survivors include: loving and devoted wife of 47 years, Renee; daughters, Nada Kuchinic and husband John of Louisville, Tennessee, Mona Fawal and husband David of Birmingham, Alabama, and Samyah Jubran of Knoxville; brother, Fuad Jubran and wife Yolanda, Louisville, Tennessee; sister, Matilda Ajlouny, Louisville, Tennessee; grandchildren, Logan and Brianna Kuchinic of Louisville, Tennessee, and Julia, Alexander, and Hannah Fawal of Birmingham, Alabama; sisters-in-law, Malak Jubran, Knoxville, Rose Jubran, Louisville, Tennessee, and Corine Jubran, Farmington Hills, Michigan, and many wonderful nieces, nephews, and cousins. Pallbearers are: Chuck Ajlouny, Elias Amireh, Rami Amireh, Anthony Eid, Salam Habiby, Omar Jubran, Robert Jubran, and Samer Shatara. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the U.T. Cancer Institute, 1520 Cherokee Trail, Suite 110, Knoxville, TN, 37920, or St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37919, or the charity of your choice. May his memory be eternal.

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Sameer Abdallah Jubran

September 29, 1934 - May 4, 2010