Bassam Joseph Dahdouh

Dr. Bassam Joseph Dahdouh, loving father, brother and uncle, passed away of natural causes on March 1, 2022. His family and loved ones are deeply affected by this loss, as he touched our lives in immeasurable ways. He was truly a one-of-a-kind man, and will live on forever in our hearts and souls.

He is survived by his daughters, Rima, Monica, and Nadia, their mother and his former wife Anna, his brothers Khaled and Waleed, and his sisters Ebtessam and Randa.

Bassam was born on March 4, 1951 in the holy city of Maaloula, Syria, where Western Aramaic (also known as the true tongue of Jesus Christ) is still spoken today. He had a deep love of his homeland and culture, and wished to share it with the world on a global scale. In his own words, he wanted to “open Western Aramaic to the rest of the world, and have humanity learn and enjoy this powerful language that brings us closer to Jesus Christ.”

He immigrated to the United States in the late 1960s to pursue his education, where he would soon meet Anna and begin growing their family. He earned his master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering and his PhD in Nuclear Physics from Lowell Technological Institute, known today as University of Massachusetts Lowell. From there, his professional achievements began to skyrocket – quite literally – as he went on to become a rocket scientist. He began his career at General Dynamics, building Atlas space rockets and serving as an Aerospace Engineering Manager and Nuclear Energy Advisor. He went on to dedicate the next couple decades working for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Department of Energy in Washington DC, in the areas of aerospace and defense, world peace, national security, and nuclear nonproliferation. He served as a Principal Technical Advisor and WMD Senior Analyst, while managing and working alongside teams of fellow scientists and engineers.

Bassam also utilized his multicultural background and knowledge of linguistics to help bridge US relations and work toward world peace. In this way, he balanced two very different cultures with success and grace, bringing the best of both worlds together in productive and honorable ways.

His list of professional accomplishments is only rivaled by his many successes as a father. He worked endlessly to provide the best lives possible for his daughters, and we are eternally grateful for the sacrifices he made for our family. Despite his demanding and dynamic career which took him far and wide all over the globe, his family remained his top priority always. No matter what happened in our lives, he was always there for us as a strong protector, provider, and listening ear. His love is his legacy, and through him we learned what it means to have integrity, compassion, and deep devotion.

Bassam’s priceless wisdom has provided the strength and guidance that will carry us through the end of our days. His love echoes deeply through the corners of our hearts and souls, as we vow to honor his legacy forever.