Lebanese American Community Mourns Loss of One of its National Leaders; Hundreds Turn Out to Pay Final Respects to Nabil Aziz Matar

+Nabil Aziz Matar: 08.01.1953 - 03.01.2009 9:36 AM

In 2006 at a United American Lebanese Federation welcoming reception for newly arrived Lebanese diplomat to the United States, H.E. Bachir S. Tawk
Citizens for John Akouri Campaign Committee Meeting at Fatoosh Restaurant of Novi, Michigan, USA (l-r) MBN-TV Network President Wally Jadan, Chaldean Times Newspaper Publisher Amir Denha, Al Long Ford Chairman Dr. Tarik Daoud, John Akouri, Nabil, Wilson Kassab, Mayor Pro-Tem Christopher McRae
Annual Summertime Guy's Nite Out Barbeque poolside at the Akouri residence..
The Celebrity Launch Party for Lebanese Monthly Magazine at the Land Rover Dealership (l-r) Moussa Aoude, Dr. Sami Makhoul, Nabil, Haj Nassib Fawaz.
Celebrating the Feast of St. Maron at the Cathedral of St. Maron Maronite Church Banquet Hall and pictured with Joseph Slim.
Greeting Lebanese Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Maronites, with Madonna University President Sr. Rose Marie Kujawa, C.S.S.F., Ph.D.

(OBITURARY) - Age 55, March 1, 2009. After a well-fought battle, Nabil Aziz Matar succombed to cancer. Loving husband of Rana. Father of Robert, Gina, and Rojet. Beloved brother of Aida (Samir) Kostantinidis, Samia, Samir (Mona), and John (Samia). Devoted uncle to several nieces and nephews. Nabil is also survived by many brothers and sisters-in-law. Devoted member of Detroit's Maronite Roman Catholic Community. Nabil will be remembered for his love for his family and his passion for business. Long time President of Matar Hospitality, owning several Big Boy Restaurants and Fatoosh of Novi. In 2006, at the Michigan Restaurants Association (MRA) annual board meeting in Lansing, Nabil was re-elected a board member and was serving a second three-year term as the first Arab American to ever serve on the MRA board of directors. He was appointed as the liaison between MRA and the Wayne County Health Department Advisory Team.

Nabil was the former Chairman and Founder of the United American Lebanese Federation, and had a deep love for his native Lebanon. A key member of the Citizens for John Akouri Campaign Committee, Nabil served as an advisor to John Akouri during his bid for the Michigan House of Representatives. According to Arab Detroit's Warren David, Nabil's brother-in-law, nearly 1000 friends, family and colleagues turned out to pay their final respects to Nabil during visitation and prayers at the Harry J. Will Funeral Home with burial at Glen Eden Memorial Park.

In a statement issued by Councilman John Akouri, he remembers Nabil as a man of moral integrity and the highest of standards. "We will miss his charismatic charm and love for all things Lebanese," said Akouri. "Against enormous odds, Nabil demonstrated his ability to be a fighter up until the very end, and an example for us all. As proud as he was of his heritage, family meant the world to Nabil, he was indeed a true family man. He was a friend that had no problem traveling the second mile to help those in need. Nabil was a leader with an indelible vision and he will be sorely missed by all those who's lives he touched in his short years on this earth."

For more information, please visit: www.nabilmatar.com and to share a memory with Nabil's family kindly visit: www.harrjwillfuneralhome.com.