Farewell to Marquand House’s Zeina and Hassan Drar

Left to right: Hassan, Mrs. Dorman, President Dorman, and Zeinab

A small group of well-wishers gathered at Marquand House for afternoon tea on Monday, March 30, to wish a sad and fond farewell to Hassan Drar and his wife Zeinab, custodians of Marquand House for more than 30 years. Hassan arrived at AUB during the presidency of Samuel B. Kirkwood. At first there was a chef in residence, but later Hassan and his wife Zeinab took over all the details of running the household—from house keeping to managing private family meals and gatherings as well as large formal receptions.

The Drars raised two children while associated with Marquand House. Both attended AUB. Dalia Ahmad, who was present Monday afternoon, is currently an anchor for New TV (Al Jadid) and occasionally hosts her own political shows; her brother, Mohammad, is studying in Texas.

Hosting the gathering, President and Mrs. Dorman gave the Drars small commemorative gifts. President Dorman thanked the couple for their long and loyal service to AUB, and noted particularly how welcoming they had been when the Dormans first took up residence just a few months ago.

The fifth floor of College Hall was well-represented by Annie Kasbarian and Mazen Korfali from the President’s Office and Vice President James Radulski and Mary Jaber from Human Resources. Others, all of whom participated in many photographs with the Drars, included the Development Office’s Soha Humaidan, Eleanor Johnson of the Provost’s Office with husband Richard, Sana Murad from the Office of Information, and Captain Saad Shalak of Protection.

Hassan recalled serving six American presidents from Samuel Kirkwood through President John Waterbury, and, even though they did not actually reside in Marquand House, four deputy presidents. Zeinab Drar plans to go to Egypt. Following a visit to the Sudan, Hassan will join her there.