On December 23, 2013, a beloved member of the Stevens community passed away. Her name was Ourida Oubraham and she worked at the Samuel C. Williams Library for thirty years, appointed library director in 2007. To commemorate Oubraham for her achievements and legacy, a memorial service was held last Friday in April 4, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. inside the Great Hall of the Samuel C. Williams Library. Many attendees arrived at the memorial service, including Oubraham’s family and friends, faculty across Stevens, and various students who knew her.
Oubraham received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Algiers University in Algeria, and a Master of Science in Library Science from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. *During Ourida’s time at Stevens, she actively promoted the library as a vital component of the Stevens experience and was ahead of her time in terms of accepting new technology and looking toward the library’s future in how it could better serve students.
*Oubraham oversaw improvements in document delivery and the formation of a textbook reserve program, including an increase in study space and the creation of a media room providing resources to help students with preparing presentations. In addition, she encouraged open communication and collaboration between the librarians and the rest of the faculty to ensure that the teaching and evaluation of information and digital literacy skills continued onward as an important component of student learning. Oubraham also led initiatives to improve the preservation of Stevens’ historical treasures and artifacts; and she organized an annual reception to recognize Stevens authors.
Throughout the memorial service, a variety of speakers stepped up to the podium to talk about their experiences with Oubraham, and how she had not only impacted Stevens, but also other people — including her family, friends, students, and coworkers in the library. All the people who took time off work and their schedule to come to the memorial service for Ourida Oubraham each shared a different experience with her, each holding slightly different perspectives of her.
Linda Beninghove, the interim director of the Samuel C. Williams Library, opened up the memorial service with a short speech, followed by Stevens President Nariman Farvardin, who spoke of his experiences with Oubraham and how she spoke with strength and determination about various library projects and saving the history of Stevens. Farvardin then went on to speak about how Oubraham’s influence was too profound and that her memories were too vivid.
After Farvardin gave his speech, Richard Widdicombe, the retired library director of the Samuel C. Williams Library described Oubraham’s willingness to plunge right in to using new technology, during the dawn of web search usage. He described his memories of Oubraham always laughing and her ability to win the hearts of other faculty members.
Shortly after, Charles Suffel, Dean of Graduate Academics, explained that Oubraham was a beloved member of the Stevens Community and possessed humility and ability. Suffel also explained that she was a tremendous leader and mentor that can effectively lead in a congenial and passionate manner.
Furthermore, Scott Smith, head of Acquisitions and Collection Development from the Samuel C. Williams Library spoke up about his unique interactions with Oubraham. There was a time in which Oubraham confided to him and told him that she wished she had planned to skydive and take more risks. This surprised Smith, who expressed that in the two years he had heard that Oubraham was diagnosed with cancer, this was the first time he has ever heard her express any form of regret.
After Scott Smith left the podium, Souhila Yacia, niece of Oubraham, stepped up. In short, she described that she vauled her family and that whenever someone asked Oubraham if she was okay, she would always reply, “I’m fine, I could be worse.”
Shortly after Yacia finished her speech, Dr. Mojdeh Tabatabaie, close friend of Oubraham and her husband Youcef, stepped up to the podium. Tabatabaie spoke to the audience and summed up his experiences with Oubraham. Towards the end of his speech, he stated that “[Ourida] may not be with us, but her legacy, teaching, and her love is always with us.”
At the end of these speeches given by people who have personally known Oubraham, the audience fell in a heavy silence during the musical interlude as *Dr. Aysegul Durakoglu, Teaching Associate Professor from the Music & Technology and College of Arts & Letters departments played “Nocturne in C minor, op. 48 no. 1 by Frederic Chopin” with the grand piano situated by the entrance of the Great Hall. The calming intense sound of each piano key echoed across the library hall, which caused some curious students studying to stop what they were doing and listen to the music.
As the musical interlude finished, closing remarks about Oubraham were made by Linda Beninghove, who decided to dedicate and restore the “Codex Leicester” to Oubraham. *The Codex Leicester was a work made by Leonardo DaVinci that had only 160 copies printed on handmade paper. The funds for the 1909 edition (copy number 81) of the Codex Leicester were generously provided by Richard and Michelle Roscitt. In addition to dedicating the Codex Leicester, the Samuel C. Williams Library also plans on picking up where Oubraham left off on her last project to honor her dedication and commitment to the Stevens community. Oubraham’s last project involved a feasibility study designed to evaluate the library and propose ideas for improving the use of library space and resources in the future.
After the memorial service closed, the attendees helped themselves to some desserts provided in the service and talked with each other about Oubraham, while some gathered to view the Codex Leicester.
One of the people who recalled Oubraham clearly was Andrew Rifkin, who worked in only one library project with her: “Ourida had a vision for using new technology to improve the library. Even when it was hard to convince people, she found a creative way to convince others to provide funding for the new iPads and she didn’t let anyone stop her when she had a good idea.”
Other people at the service commented about their memories of Oubraham, including student Ibrahim Dulijan. “I met her at the third floor [of the library] and I introduced myself to her two years ago as an international student from Saudi Arabia. She greeted me every time she saw me; she recognized my face, and that was how I felt connected to her.”
Perhaps the most touching comment of Oubraham’s passing came from Linda Beninghove, who worked closely with Oubraham for years. “I am overwhelmed by the kindness shown by the Stevens community – students, faculty, staff, and alumni – who have expressed their deep sadness at the news of Oubraham’s passing. The library staff was very touched by the support and caring shown by all who attended the memorial service.
We are so thankful that we could all come together to celebrate the life of our beloved colleague. We are so grateful that Ourida’s family and friends were able to travel from near and far to join us for the memorial service. Ourida was very dedicated to her work first as a librarian and then as Deputy Director and Director of the Library. She worked at Stevens for 30 years and always put the needs of students first. She set quite an example and we are honored to have known her and we miss her very much.”
Ourida Oubraham has left a legacy felt by all, especially with her family members including but not limited to: Youcef Oubraham, her husband who works as the E-Learning Technologies Administrator and Library Systems Administrator in the IT department of Stevens; and her sons Samir and Sofiane; both of whom have children.
*Cited from Ourida Oubraham’s Memorial Service booklet
Be First to Comment