I'm saddened to announce the passing of Nabil Garas last night at 11 p.m. The Garas family have always been good family friends and I was lucky enough to be a regular guest at the Garas house during my childhood years. Trip to Tahoe in the snow. Check! Junior prom pictures taken in their amazing garden. Check! Traveling to the exciting cities of Fresno and San Bernardino. Check! And through all those Odyssey years Nabil was our fearless leader, fascinating me by his insane amount of scientific knowledge. Nabil did not just have a PhD in plant pathology, he also would make yogurt! In their fridge! But I think what everyone will remember most about Nabil is not his intelligence, not his awesome Eygptian accent, not the yogurt in the fridge, but his humor, his warm smile (always slightly bemused by his daughter's "effusive" friend) and most of all his kindness. May God keep you in heaven Nabil, we will miss you here.

You can see a link to his official obituary here as well as information for how to make donations in his honor here.