Azzam Kanaan

Kanaan, Azzam Sadeq Dr. Azzam Sadeq Kanaan passed away on March 3, 2021 in Nablus, Palestine. He fought leukemia for two years before fulfilling his final wish to see the land of his youth once more. He passed away just as he lived, with peace and calm. Azzam was born on February 4, 1939 in Nablus, Palestine. The youngest of nine children, he was raised in a home where education was paramount and encouraged. He obtained his medical degree in Cairo and emigrated to the United States in 1971, and then completed his Neurology residency at IUPUI in Indianapolis. He moved to Michigan and joined Kalamazoo Neurology in 1975. Dr. Kanaan was a founding member of KNI, the Kalamazoo Neurological Institute in 1982. He led KNI and later Southwest Michigan Imaging Center to bring world-class Neuroimaging to his community. KNI's main office was renamed in his honor as Kanaan Imaging Center in 2012. As much as he loved his native home of Palestine, he also loved Michigan - his home of 50 years. He was buried in Palestine, with a Petoskey Stone and his best friend's dog tags. Azzam Kanaan touched countless lives as a physician, visionary, mentor, and friend. Judged by the standard of "what we do when nobody else is watching," he had no peer. Kindness, effortless pure kindness, directed every thought and word. This purity of spirit, made him selfless and fair. He gave of himself without a ledger or tally: he expected no repayment, and so he always genuinely appreciated the hard work and efforts of those around him. In fact, it was his combination of boundless generosity and respect for everyone he met, that brought out the best in others. From long-time colleagues or employees, to someone meeting him for the first time, Azzam Kanaan inspired everyone who knew him. Work was not toil for him, it was a mission. He approached every task with a love of math and logic, but always foremost with Kindness. He is preceded in death by his father Sadeq, his mother Rabeeha, his brothers Nasouh, Ribhi, (WMU professor) Adli, and Faisal and his sisters Rihab, Wisam, and Tamam. He also joins his medical partners and best friends Dr. Illydio Polachini and Dr. Russell Mohney. Azzam Kanaan is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 50 years Shadia, his sons Khaled, Hilal, Nidal, and Samer, his sister Siham, his daughter-in-law Ali, and beloved grandchildren Zaid and Aya. Because there was no limit to his kindness and generosity, he was always ready to "adopt" people he cared about. He leaves behind friends and colleagues he considered his brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews he treated as his children. He is lost to every person in his community he was so ready to accept, help, mentor and love like family. No date has been set for a memorial service. The Kanaan family hopes we are all wearing masks in public and practicing social distancing. They look forward to a day soon when we can safely gather, hug, laugh, and celebrate a remarkable life together. Son of Nablus (written by his family, for Azzam S. Kanaan) I have seen the Sun and empires rise and set, Baring witness to the crossroads of humanity. Just as I am cradled between two mountains, I cradled you. Child of mine. Son of Nablus. I heard your first cry, and echoed your laughter, As you ran through my alleyways. The joys of Youth passed with the seasons, Until the long Winter of our People befell us. But you endured. Through hardship you found Manhood. And you thrived. Even though an Ocean and injustice separated us, I still cradled the Spirit of Palestine within you. And you thrived. Years passed and the shadows stretching across my stone arches grew longer. And you yearned to return to me. But my dear child, you never left. You have always been with me. Son of Palestine, know that I exist only through you. My soul is your soul. And through your love, I will live forever.