Reema Samaha

By: Eric
Published On: 4/17/2007 8:35:29 PM

Those of you who have been active in the NOVA Democratic scene may have known Reema Samaha, one of the 32 victims of the senseless tragedy at Virginia Tech yesterday.

Although I had never met her, I understand she was very enthusiastic and active volunteer for Chuck Caputo's successful bid for State Delegate in the 67th in 2005.  She was a recent graduate of Westfields High School (sadly the same school the killer attended) and was only in her freshman year.

Below are three of the many stories covering the victims in which Reema is mentioned.
Several Killed At Virginia Tech Local Area Residents (NBC 4)

Two Lebanese Virginia Tech Students among Shooting Victims

"Freshman a talented dancer, actress" (USA Today)

Our condolences and prayers go out to all the victim's families and friends in this very difficult time.

[UPDATE: Another excellent story, this time by the Lebanon Daily Star.  "An avid dancer, Reema had performed the debke with Lebanese and Palestinian students at Virginia Tech's International Fair a day before her deah. On Saturday night, she had performed with the Contemporary Dance Ensemble."]

[UPDATE #2: Videos of Reema Samaha's last Debke performance are available here. "Reema is seen in the three videos wearing the green dress."]

Comments



What a beautiful child (demnan - 4/17/2007 8:39:32 PM)
and a devasting loss!  We have to reform the gun laws in Virginia.  You can't look at that young woman's face and say no.


What a waste of a young and promising life. (Kindler - 4/17/2007 8:50:07 PM)


A great tragedy (PM - 4/17/2007 9:14:17 PM)
I met her a few times briefly on Chuck's campaign; she was very pleasant and enthusiastic; I remember those bright eyes and that smile.  The kind of face and eyes that show the goodness inside a person. I shall miss seeing her.  I am sure the loss is crushing for those who knew her well.


Oh God (AnonymousIsAWoman - 4/17/2007 9:35:04 PM)
I think I met her briefly at a rally once.  I thought her face looked familiar from the pictures on tv.

Also, I heard on NBC Dateline that she had been in Beirut visiting her grandmother during the war there and when she and her brother got home, they breathed a sigh of relief and thought they were safe now.  How ironic and tragic!



It makes my heart heavy just to see her picture (Hugo Estrada - 4/17/2007 9:54:45 PM)
It highlights the horror of violence in ways that words cannot express.


Post has partial list of victims, with some bios (PM - 4/17/2007 11:22:55 PM)
http://www.washingto...

This obituary made me weep:

Kevin Granata

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Age: 45 years old

Location: Norris Hall

Related Links: Faculty Profile, Virginia Polytechnic Institute

OSU grad was killed at Virginia Tech (Zanesville Times Recorder, April 17, 2007)

Purdue grads killed in gun rampage (Indianapolis Star, April 17, 2007)

Profile: Kevin Granata, a professor of engineering science and mechanics, served in the military and later conducted orthopedic research in hospitals before coming to Virginia Tech. At the university, he and his students researched muscle and reflex response and robotics.

The head of the school's engineering science and mechanics department called Granata one of the top five biomechanics researchers in the country working on movement dynamics in cerebral palsy.



And more bios here (PM - 4/18/2007 12:08:14 AM)
http://www.msnbc.msn...

The despicable anti-Asian anti-just-about-every nationality Debbie Schlussel might note (but won't) that one victim was Korean and one was half-Korean (Mary Read from our area.)



Reema Samaha (seamusotoole - 4/17/2007 11:51:50 PM)
Reema Samaha and Erin Peterson both live in Cub Run Precinct where I am a co-precinct captain.  Both were instrumental in helping Chuck Caputo in his race for delegate two years ago.  They were beautiful young women who had so much to offer.  My heart goes out to their families and friends.  Erin was my neighbor and lived two doors from me.  Centreville has once again been hit by so much tragedy and loss.  It is a very sad week for Virginia.
So many people have been touched by this tragedy.

Mary Lee



Wasn't Erin Peterson (PM - 4/18/2007 12:09:21 AM)
one of the women who spoke out about being offended by Chris Craddock's racist remarks in her classroom?


I believe so (Jambon - 4/18/2007 12:29:22 AM)
I can't seem to find the original article on the Connection Newspaper website but you can see her quotes at this link...

http://xnerg.blogspo...



Erin Peterson (seamusotoole - 4/18/2007 7:39:59 AM)
Yes, Erin was one of the students in the AP Government Class where Chris Craddock spoke.  She was very upset by his comments and WAS interviewed by The Centreview, as were several students.  Her comments did appear in the paper.

Mary Lee



I remember her also.... (Used2Bneutral - 4/18/2007 8:03:04 AM)
another bundle of enthusiasm and energy..... As I said Monday night, as we learn whom all were the victims, it gets harder and harder as the numbing enormity becomes painful reallity.

The most horrible item I heard on TV so far was that every fatality on the scene had at least three bullets each !!!



Who was it that said that the GOP had all the beauties? (thegools - 4/18/2007 6:18:57 PM)
She is very pretty and as I understand was very bright.

Every loss in this thing is tragic.  It silences a multitude of generations (children and grandchildren..)  that will now never be.



CNN Interviews Reema's Father (Glant - 4/19/2007 1:13:06 PM)
CNN has a picture of Reema on its front page right now.

www.cnn.com

The story contains a link to a Special Reprot with tributes to of the victims of Monday's tragedy.  The tributes to Reema, http://www.cnn.com/S... include posts from one of her local teachers, a friend in Lebanon, etc.  It also includes a link to an interview that Wolf Blitzer conducted with Reema's father, where Mr. Samaha talks about his wonderful daughter and about trying to contact her on Monday.  I must admit I found it very heartbreaking to watch.

My deepest condolences to the Samaha family and the families of all the victims.