Basem Farhood

Basem Farhood, DDS

December 5, 1938 – November 25, 2023

“If courage shrinks, be winged and flies,
and in flight dips down, unties
the heart strings so it dies,
would it be the last goodbye?”

Basem Farhood from Voices from Near and Far

Basem Farhood fell asleep in the Lord on November 25, 2023.  The third of four children, he was born December 5, 1938 in Sidon, Lebanon to Harry and Najla Farhood.  Because his father had lived in the United States and established U.S. citizenship before returning to Lebanon, Basem was born a U.S. citizen.  He often laughs about his journey to the United States.  His father and two older brothers, Emile and Sam, came to the United States in 1946 with plans for Najla, Basem and Emily to join them in West Virginia.  In February of 1947 the three finally crossed the Atlantic by boat, arriving at Ellis Island.  During the three-week trip Najla would only let Basem and Emily eat apples and oranges, worried that there was no refrigeration on the boat!  Soon after the family was reunited, they moved to Collinsville,  OK and then finally settled in Tulsa, OK.

Basem graduated from Central High School and attended the University of Tulsa.  He received early admission to Baylor Dental School graduating in 1964.  He then entered the military as a Captain in the US Army Dental Corps, serving at Ft. Sill, OK until 1966.

Basem married Janet (Nunu) Musallam in 1966 and they moved to Tulsa, OK where he established a Dental practice in which he practiced 19 years.  He began a second career as a consultant for Dentsply International, traveling the world to provide educational seminars to endodontic clients as well as providing in-house client support and research and development for the company.  He retired in 2009.

Basem was a lifelong member of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, attending St. Antony Antiochian Orthodox Church in Tulsa, where he served on the Parish Council, and St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Church in Oklahoma City after moving to Oklahoma City in 2002.

Basem developed a mid-life love of the creative arts, once playing the lead in a play at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and personally penning beautiful poems.  He particularly loved the poetry of Naomi Shihad Nye and Emily Dickinson and was a devotee of the essays of the 18th century philosopher Samuel Johnson.  At the age of 83, Basem achieved a decades-long goal of publishing a book of poetry, Voices from Near and Far, a collection of poems he had written over the years, with favorite theme appropriate quotations.

Basem had larger-than-life opinions on humanity, the news, and all things sports.  He would always welcome a discussion with anyone who wasn’t afraid to hear his cerebral logic, wit and unique take on life.  He was a prolific life observer and those who knew him well were rewarded with new perspectives and opinions.  Basem was a devoted fan of sports, particularly OU football and University of Tulsa basketball.  

Basem was immensely proud of his two sons and three grandchildren.  Nothing made him happier than family time, especially that spent watching sports or conducting post-game critiques with his sons and time spent with granddaughters Allie and Cate and grandson Sam. 

Basem was preceded in death by his parents, brother Sam and wife Nuhad, father and mother-in-law Sami and Abla Musallam, sister-in-law Sue Morrow, and brother-in-law Sam Labib Musallam.  He is survived by his wife, Janet (Nunu), son Dr. Vincent Farhood and wife Dr. Lisa Farhood, son Clayton Farhood and husband Stephen Bradley, granddaughters Allison and Catelyn Farhood, and grandson Sam Farhood.  He is also survived by brother Emile Farhood and wife Giselle, sister Emily Rahal and husband Fred, sister-in-law Michelle Musallam and partner Katrina Wollenberg, sister-in-law Dee Morales, and brother-in-law Mark Morrow as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Bradley Carter, who provided exquisite care and kindness to Basem through the years and during his most recent illness.  We also wish to thank Frontier Hospice staff for the compassionate care they have provided.

The family will hold a visitation at Smith Kernke Funeral on Monday, November 27 from 4 to 6 pm.  The funeral service will be held Tuesday, November 28 at 10:30 am at St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Church 15000 N. May.  In lieu of flowers the family wishes memorial donations be made to the St. Elijah Flowers that Do Not Wither Fund or to MECA (Middle East Children’s Alliance), 1101 8^th St., Berkeley, CA 94710