Renowned Advocate of Arab Unity Dr. Clovis Maksoud Passes Away at Age 90
Arab American National Museum – Press Release
DEARBORN, Mich. (May 16, 2016) – The Arab World has lost a true advocate for diversity and unity among Arab nations. Dr. Clovis Maksoud, a diplomat, professor, editor, writer, humanistic thinker and charter member of the Arab American National Museum (AANM) National Advisory Board, passed away Sunday, May 15, 2016, at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. as a result of severe cerebral hemorrhage.
“Dr. Maksoud has been a pillar of our community and our lives on many levels and certainly a guiding light in the establishment and growth of the Arab American National Museum,” says Manal B. Saab, chair, AANM National Advisory Board. “Despite his major accomplishments on the world scene from New Delhi to New York to Washington D.C. via Beirut and Cairo, he still retained the heart and soul of a simple villager from Lebanon.”
Maksoud’s life journey took him from the U.S. to Europe, Africa, southeast Asia and throughout the Arab World. A son of Lebanese immigrants, he was born in Oklahoma in 1926. His family moved back to Lebanon where he graduated from the American University of Beirut in 1948 with a degree in political science. He would later study at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and receive a law degree. He conducted his post-graduate studies at Oxford University in England.
As a diplomat, Maksoud served as Ambassador of the Arab League to India and South East Asia from 1961-1966. During the duration of his term Maksoud played a pivotal role in establishing closer relations between India and the Arab World. In 1979, Maksoud became the Ambassador of the Arab League to the U.S. and the United Nations. His vision and commitment opened new avenues of political dialogue and cultural understanding in the United States. From 1967-1979, he served as the senior editor of Al-Ahram newspaper and then chief editor of Al-Nahar Weekly newspaper.
Throughout his career he was always conscious of the difficult living conditions and severe needs of most of the world’s population. True to his humanistic ideas he founded The Center for the Study of the Global South at The American University in Washington, D.C. in 1992. He was also instrumental in the preparation of a series of in-depth United Nations reports on the status of development in the Arab World.
Dr. Maksoud is the author of many articles and books on Arab politics and identity including The Meaning of Non Alignment, The Crisis of the Arab Left, Reflections on Afro-Asianism and The Arab Image.
Everywhere he went, Maksoud articulated Arab grievances in a manner that American audiences could understand. To Arabs everywhere, he was the sincere and passionate spokesperson of pan-Arab aspirations and Palestinian rights.
Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, marked Maksoud’s final visit to the Arab American National Museum. He was warmly welcomed and congratulated on the publication of his Arabic-language memoir and gave lengthy insightful remarks. Photos of the event may be viewed HERE.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend Dr. Clovis Maksoud. He was an extraordinary activist, diplomat and scholar, says Devon Akmon, AANM director. “Moreover, we are deeply grateful for his 11 years of service on the AANM’s National Advisory Board. May he rest in peace.”
Maksoud is survived by his first wife Rosemary Curry, his daughter Elizabeth and one grandchild, Mathew. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family once they are finalized.