Page 18 - كتاب تأبين حسنين ربيع

changing political winds in Egypt indicating to the ARCE Cairo office
personnel when the wording of a proposed research project would create a
problem. He also played a major role in seeking an appropriate Egyptian
academician who would serve as the American’s “Egyptian academic
advisor.” Because of this input ARCE rarely had a problem with Egyptian
authorities over the work of their fellows.

I first met Hassanein, briefly, in London in 1965 when we were both
graduate students but it was from 1971 that our friendship started and
continued until his last years when recurring hospital stays and declining
health limited his contacts and movement. We quickly established a routine
where each would aid the other in acquiring books or articles for our
research interests. Over time we expanded our exchanges to aid colleagues
and family members who needed academic material not easily acquired in
our home countries. Always a welcoming host, an evening spent with
Hassanein and his family was always a highlight for me during a visit to
Cairo. The scholarly world has lost a demanding scholar, an exceptional
teacher, and an effective administrator and, for me, a friend.

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