Obituary of Majid Al-Khazraji Allan

Majid Al-Khazraji Allan, 83, of State College, passed away Thursday, December 29, 2016, at Mt. Nittany Medical Center. The son of the late Ghaidan Al-Khazraji and Hayhin Musa Al-Zubaidi, he was born April 15, 1933 in the small village of Ali Gharbi along the Tigris River in Iraq. On Sept. 3, 1960 he married Emilie Andersen, who survives. Also surviving are three children, Mai Miriam Allan and her husband, Douglas Blonsky, of New York City; Nada Emilie Balbachan and her husband, Permanand, of Hollywood, FL; and Andrew Majid Allan and his wife, Camille Bernier, of Madison, WI; three siblings, Karim Al-Khazraji and his wife, Patricia, of Atlanta, GA; Leilah Al-Khazraji and Adnan Al-Khazraji, both of Iraq; four grandchildren, Rashad and Anthony Balbachan, and Louis and Wyatt Allan. Growing up, as he would say "poor but happy", he followed his father's advice to study and work hard for a better life, securing a scholarship to study in America by age 21. In 1954 he arrived in the U.S. to study Rural Sociology at Cornell University where he eventually earned Bachelor of Science (1958) and Masters (1959) degrees. He earned a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1967, and went on to become a college professor, teaching at Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, St. Francis College in Loretto, PA, and the State University of New York at Old Westbury. He later served as an expert in social and economic development for the United Nations Development Program. It is said that the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. Majid touched many lives. From his early scholarly research and community organizing work, to the thousands of students who passed through his classrooms, to a precedent-setting supreme court case protecting ethnic minorities against discrimination, to helping communities improve living conditions in the developing world, to his work as a volunteer on Patton Township land use and water committees, to assisting voters as a longtime poll worker in Toftrees, his life was devoted to supporting and positively impacting the lives of others. He was a dedicated father, loving companion, and a master storyteller who always put the needs of others before his own. He never failed to offer a kind word to everyone he met, and his smile and embracing personality will always be remembered by those who knew and loved him. A tremendous debt of gratitude is owed Dr. Hussein Aboul-Hosn of the Bellefonte Medical Clinic, the medical and nursing staff at Mount Nittany Medical Center, and the Bernier family of State College for their compassion and support. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Those wishing to offer their condolences or attend the future memorial service are asked to please sign the guest book and provide contact information at www.Kochfuneralhome.com or on their Facebook page.