Stories of Compassion and Dedication
- Professor Shahin once recounted an incident at President Bayard Dodge’s Christmas dinner during World War II. A messenger arrived with a cable, which Dodge quietly read and set aside, and the guests assumed it contained seasonal greetings. He continued to host the evening with warmth and cheer. Only the next day did the invitees learn that the cable carried the tragic news of his son’s death—a testament to Dodge’s composure and selflessness.
- On the 50th anniversary of Professor Harvey Porter’s arrival in Beirut, Professor Kurban, praised Dr. and Mrs. Porter: “We cannot sufficiently thank them for their noble career and inestimable services to Syria. Their hospitable home has always been open to students and Syrian friends.”
- References to Howard Bliss and Bayard Dodge as exemplars of integrity remain vivid. Iskandar Girgi Rebeiz admired Bliss as a man of profound dignity and compassion, who shared in “our happiness and our sorrows.” Mary Bliss and Bayard Dodge were celebrated as a gracious couple, active in the social and emotional life of the community, visiting new mothers, congratulating newlyweds, and comforting the bereaved.
- The role of the College president was multifaceted and demanded numerous personal sacrifices. Dr. Howard Bliss, for instance, often received more than six visitors in a single day, with meetings frequently extending late into the night. His duties went far beyond administrative tasks: he was sometimes called to Beirut, even in stormy weather, to act as a guarantor for students detained over military service issues. Such responsibilities required not only dedication and perseverance but also a deep sense of moral responsibility, as he balanced the welfare of individual students with the broader needs of the College community.