Munir Zabaneh

Munir Zabaneh, beloved father, grandfather, educator, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by his children at the age of 98, leaving behind a legacy of knowledge, laughter, and unwavering devotion to family and learning.

Born in Jerusalem, Munir's life was shaped by curiosity, compassion, and resilience. He was an altar boy and an active member of the Greek Orthodox Men’s Choir throughout his youth. As a teenager during World War II, he worked in a British army camp as a storekeeper and assembled gas masks for soldiers. Despite the chaos of war, Munir continued his education, graduating with a degree in math and physics from Jaffa Orthodox College in 1948. That same year, he led 21 members of his family through Jordan to Lebanon in the middle of the night during the Nakba, leaving all possessions and other family members behind.

After settling in Kousba, a small mountain town in the north of Lebanon, he began his career in education in 1951, where he inspired young minds in the subject of mathematics at the Tripoli Boys School, and later the Tripoli Evangelical School, a private K-12 school established in 1873 by American Protestant missionaries.

In 1967, Munir married the love of his life, Elaine, an American college professor teaching in Beirut. Together they raised two children, Marwan and Amal, and built a home filled with warmth, wisdom, and wit. His sharp intellect was rivaled only by his wicked sense of humor, a trademark that brought light to any room he entered.

In 1975 war again disrupted his life, this time the civil war in Lebanon. After 11 years of dealing with the challenges of living and teaching in an active war zone, Munir and Elaine decided to move their family to the safety of the United States. In 1986, he brought his talents to Oak Ridge Military Academy in Oak Ridge, North Carolina where he continued teaching with tireless dedication, ultimately shaping generations of students over an extraordinary 55 year career.  Many of his students near and far, and some from his earliest days of teaching, stayed in touch with him over the years, calling regularly and scheduling dinners and reunions to honor the impact he had on their lives and careers.

Munir took immense pride in his family, especially his four grandchildren, who were the joy of his later years. His stories, both humorous and heartfelt, will continue to echo in the memories of those who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Elaine, two brothers, and a cherished niece. Though he has left this world, Munir’s spirit endures in the countless lives he touched—as a teacher, a father, a grandfather, an uncle, and a friend. Munir is survived by his son Marwan and wife Jenny of Winston-Salem, his daughter Amal Wood and husband David of Kernersville, and four incredible grandchildren.

A private service will be held in his honor. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a scholarship fund for aspiring educators or to a charity of your choice, in memory of Munir’s lifelong commitment to teaching and learning or to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home of Winston Salem.

May his memory be a blessing and his legacy live on through the many hearts and minds he helped shape.

Friends and family may sign the guestbook online at www.piercejeffersonfh.com