Dr. Benny Iskandar Speech

Dedication Ceremony Jamil B. Iskandar Conference Room Lebanese American University Byblos (December 16, 2009.) My family joins me in thanking LAU, especially President Jabbra, the VPs, as well as the Boards of Trustees and Advisors for honoring my father. We especially appreciate all the time that Mr. Kadi, Mrs. Barghoud, and their team have spent on this project. And we thank all the close friends and family members who made an effort to come today. My father served the University in many functions since 1983, when he was a member of the board of overseers, then member and chairman of the Board of Trustees, and vice chairman for the last 3 years of his life. His service to the University was not utilitarian, and had nothing to do with recognition or prestige. It was plain and simple a labor of love, a sense of civic duty, an appreciation of science and education, which is what also drove him to head the Boards of several other non-profit organizations and universities. Several LAU teachers approached us after his death to make sure we know that he was their advocate, trustworthy and sound advisor, and friend. Herein lie the basic principles upon which my father conducted both his personal and professional lives. He was a perfectionist both in his work as well as in his personal relationships. He always preferred fairness and sincerity to political correctness. As one of his friends described it best: With Jamil, what you see is what you get. He had no hidden agendas or ulterior motives. Instead, he looked people straight in the eye and spoke his mind. But of all of my father’s endearing qualities, one stood out. For many of us, he was simply the kindest of men, the man with the biggest heart. What was LAU to my father? Well, of course he hoped it would become, as it has, a center of teaching excellence where young men and women are guided toward bright futures in specialized fields. But such institutions already existed in this country. What was missing, and which he hoped LAU could become, is an apolitical institution of higher learning where religion and socioeconomic status are irrelevant. He would probably have never expected to be honored like we are doing today, believing in the motto that “In giving, one should expect no reward.” If LAU truly achieves those ideals in a country that sorely needs them, this is when my father would be truly honored and rewarded for his work. Thank you again for helping us keep his memory alive.

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