Abdullah "Abby" M. Mina

ABDULLAH “ABBY” MINA, age 89; passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Beloved husband of Mona Mina (nee Haddad) for 61 years; loving father of Michael Mina (Nadine Abraham) and Dorothy Mina; dearest grandfather of Annemarie Miller (James), Michael Mina and Amanda Solanics (Joe); great-grandfather of Leo, Henry and Nathan; son of the late Michael and Labibi (nee Karam) Mina; brother of Jamileh Makhoul, Afifi Mina and the late Milhem Mina, Emiline Choueiri, Mourad Mina, Caroline Karam, Martha Mina, Mariam Mina and Fahima Aboujaoude; brother-in-law of Eva Mina and George Makhoul; beloved uncle, great-uncle and dear friend of many in the United States and Lebanon. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Elias Church, 8023 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn, OH  44144, or St. George Melkite Catholic Church in Kefraya, Lebanon. Funeral Service at St. Elias Church, Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Family and friends received in church, Wednesday from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

He was the longest-serving president of the Cleveland American Middle East Organization (CAMEO), was president of the Advisory Council of Saint Elias Melkite Catholic Church, the Kirby Club, and served on several boards, such as the International Services Center and the Arab American Center for economic and social services (AACESS) in Ohio. He was well-known as the host and producer of the local weekly Arabic Radio Program for over thirty years, first at WZAK, then at WCSB.

He was recognized with a Citation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for assisting many new immigrants, both personally and through his radio programs, and in 2004 was appointed as the first Lebanese-American Grand Jury Foreman in Cuyahoga County. He received many proclamations and citations from government agencies and the Arab American Institute in Washington, D.C. He was honored by the U.S. Census Bureau for his work in their outreach program, and received the Freedom Award by the American Nationalities Movement of Ohio. He was invited to meet with many elected officials, including Senator John Glenn and Governor Taft, and he received a call from the White House inviting him to Washington D.C. to meet on various issues.

Through the years, he helped many people fill out forms and he translated documents needed for immigration. He has done interpretations in the Immigration Courts, both in Cleveland and Cincinnati, and completed and translated an estimated one thousand forms and documents without accepting any remuneration. Some of his fondest memories included meeting King Hussein of Jordan, and he was invited to personally meet King Khaled of Saudi Arabia on his visit to Cleveland.

He arrived in Cleveland in the mid-1960s, he entered the insurance business, retiring as a Marketing Consultant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio. While there, he won numerous awards for his sales achievements.

In college, Abby was known for his activities in Student Government. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from the University of Richmond, VA, served as President of both the History Society and the Philologian Literary Society, and was appointed editor-in-chief of the University’s Literary Magazine (The Messenger), the first such honor for a foreign student in any Virginia university or college.

His primary and secondary education were completed in Islamic, Catholic, Protestant and secular Schools. He enjoyed classical music and Arabic poetry and music. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who was a loving, caring and generous man and was loved dearly by his family. Although he is no longer physically with us, his spirit will continue to uplift and inspire us.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Kemper Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital for their compassionate care.