Obituary of Dr. David G Abed

Abed, Dr. David G. October 17, 1927 – February 19, 2021 Born in 1927, David Gourgi Abed grew up and was first educated in Baghdad. He liked to joke that he was a descendent of ancient Babylon, his family having settled in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley in what is now Iraq long before records were kept. At 20 years old he would leave his family, homeland, language, and culture behind to study medicine at the Sorbonne in Paris. While there, he not only excelled in his studies (earning his medical degree with distinction), but he also forged lifelong friendships, met and married the love of his life, and became a father. At the age of 28 he and his wife, Henriette, set off aboard a large passenger ship destined for Ellis Island, and, ultimately, for Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he would begin his medical residency. By 1960, he would once again establish new roots, this time in Oakland, New Jersey, where he would remain for the next three and a half decades as he immersed himself in his medical practice, soon becoming the doctor for the Oakland Police Department, as well as for the high school football team. His dedication to and caring for his patients was well known and appreciated by many. David Abed died on February 26 in his beloved Paris, leaving behind two brothers; his wife, Henriette; his 2 children, Hélène Dominique and Jean-Claude Abed; 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. Strong, resilient, and always kind, he navigated multiple worlds, languages, and cultures with integrity, never losing sight of what was most important to him: his family, his friends, and his patients. Living his life with an eye toward a better future, he stayed humble, compassionate, and loving until the end. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at Oakland Memorial Home (330 Ramapo Valley Rd. Oakland, NJ). Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Dr. Abed’s memory to Doctors Without Borders or the American Cancer Society.