Dearest Ammo, On your fifth anniversary we pray to God to bless your beautiful soul. Please pray for us by the throne of our Lord as we continue our journey.
Miss you.

Five years. I hope you are well. We miss you and think of you always.

Happy birthday dad. I hope you have peace and comfort.

Happy Father's Day. We miss you much.

Happy Father's Day. We all miss you. The grandkids are growing up just as you would want.

Love,
Laith and Roshan

Happy Father’s Day Jiddu. We all miss you!


Love,

Naveen

Dear Jiddu,

I just wanted to say that I am always thinking of you and how much you have helped shape me and how I see the world. I am honored to carry on your last name and I hope to make you proud as I get older. أحبك جدو

You eldest grandson,

Naveen Altaweel

Happy birthday. Thinking of you today and always.

I think of you every Father's Day Ammo Rafi. I am so lucky I had you as a second father. May God bless your soul!

Missed you on Father's day. Wish you were here.

Three years since you left. Hope you are well and resting. Look forward to seeing you again.

Hi Dad,

You would have been 80 today. Would have been a big number to reach. Happy birthday and we miss you much.

Mark

Hi Dad,

Happy father's day. We miss you much and wish you were with us.

Can't believe it has been two years since you left. We miss you much.

Dear Jiddu
Laith the kids and I all miss you but we know you are watching over us. Laith and I remind the kids that you want them to live a good life and to make you proud. My parents also think of you and obviously Nana too. You will be glad to know Trump was not reelected. Im sure you know already. Every time we find a good restaurant we think of you. Love Roshan

Happy Birthday, Dad. We all miss you.

Happy birthday dad. Not late this year at least.

Happy Father's Day dad.

Dear Jiddu
Laith the kids and I remember you often. Whenever we eat in a good restaurant - we think of you. When the kids come home with some good news we think of you. They know that they must live a good life to make you proud of them and make good choices. They lit a candle for you and prayed and feel you are with them. We know you are watching over us.

Yesterday marked one year since you left us. Our memories with you bring smiles and warmth to our hearts. You were truly “second to none”- recent words of my Dad. You are missed so much dear Ammo.
May God bless your soul, and may you be in the company of the saints and the righteous.

Can't believe it has been almost a year. You will always be missed.

Dear Jiddu happy birthday to you, laith and I think of you whenever we have good food. We feel you are with us every moment watching the kids and seeing them do good things. They know they have to make you proud and they miss you a lot. But we tell them they can always talk to you in their heart.

Happy birthday dad....as usual one day late :).

My first recollection of meeting Rafi was probably sometime around 18-20 years ago when my father Hamid came to visit from Phoenix. He asked that I reach out to his cousins Rafi and Mazin who he hadn’t seen in decades as both lived in the Chicago area too. I had met Mazin 30+ years prior when my two brothers and I did a road trip to California with my father when Mazin was still a student at University of Chicago, but we had lost touch after that. I had not known Rafi at all until my dad reconnected with them on his visit as he came to the US several years after I had met Mazin.
We hosted a barbecue at our house and Rafi, Mazin, Michal and Mark came out from Chicago to see my father and meet my wife and daughter. Everyone who knew Rafi would probably guess that he was smitten by my daughter Julia who was probably 3-4 years old at that time. Rafi immediately nicknamed her Princess, a name that stuck with her over the last many years. Rafi and my father were close growing up and the time gap between their visits didn’t seem to matter as they started ribbing each other about weight, gray hair, politics, weather and any other topics where they disagreed. Just like old times. Their bickering-like-brothers relationship continued on for years over the phone and during my dad’s visits. Despite their differences, I think they both needed someone in their lives who brought back memories of better times in their home country.
Over the many years since, Rafi had always taken an interest and shown great concern for my family. He was usually the person we’d seek out for advice on health questions and family matters. He listened with unfailing attention, provided heartfelt guidance and was always generous with his time. He loved a good political debate and usually won because he had more stamina than everyone else (not because he was right!). Despite his failing health, he never failed to show more concern for people he cared for which seemed to be the reason he carried on.
Rafi and Mazin are the closest connections I have had with the Frangul (Frangoul/Frangool) side of the family and they have treated me and my wife and kids as though we had always been close family. My biggest regret is not having the chance to know Rafi and his wonderful family until my late-30s. He will be missed. Godspeed.

Words cannot even begin to express my sorrow.  Azo, Laith and Mark, please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.
Dr. Altaweel opened his arms to my family, when we just moved from Taiwan to Glenview, Illinois.
There were several years,  my husband Alex worked at Taipei branch of his employer then and I worked at Chicago downtown, our son James spent most his after school hours with the Altaweel's.  Every time when I went to pick James up after work, Dr. Altaweel would welcome me into his house  with his sincere smile and ask me how my day was, the warmth of his would wipe away my guilty feeling for leaving my child with this family til so late..., even today I can still vividly hear his warm and kind welcoming voice. 
We kept our friendship after Alex changed his job and we moved to California, I remember Altaweel and Tao families met up at Las Vagas for Christmas one year, I also remember when Dr. Altaweel and the kids came to California, they would visit us whenever they could. 
Dr. Altaweel kept his generosity and passions towards his friends even when his health was getting fragile, he made a good effort to call us on every Christmas holidays, no matter where we are.  He reached out to me immediately when Alex passed away, even though he himself was not in very good condition.  I am forever indebted to his kindness, encouragement and thoughtfulness.
I miss you, Rafi. 

On Sunday March 3, 2019 at 11 AM in St. Peter and Paul Syriac Orthodox Church, there will be a memorial service for Dr. Altaweel. The address is 25566 Lahser Rd. Southfield, MI 48033

On Saturday March 2, 2019 at 5 PM at St. Behnam Syriac Orthodox Church in Toronto, Canada there will be a memorial service for Dr. Rafi Altaweel.

This Sunday, March 3rd 2019 (starting at 2pm) St. Afrem Syriac Orthodox Church (Northlake, Illinois) will have a Memorial prayer on behalf of the late Dr. Rafi Altaweel.
We ask that you inform family and friends to join us, as we bid farewell to a dear friend and important figure in the history of St. Afrem’s Church and pray on behalf of his departed soul. He will be deeply missed. Our sincere condolences to the Altaweel family.
Light snacks & refreshments to follow in the Church Hall. In lieu of flower donations, his family has asked for donations to be made to St. Judes Children’s Hospital, in his name.

Funeral service will be at St. Aphraim Syriac Orthodox Church on Friday 3/1 at 10:00 am (viewing) and mass at 11:00 am
6200 Indian Run Pkwy, Alexandria, VA 22312