NAOUM, Dr. Adil Naoum

With heavy hearts, the world of mathematics and Iraqi academia bids farewell to one of its most enduring pillars and brightest luminaries — the distinguished scholar and devoted educator, Dr. Adil Naoum, who dedicated his life to the service of knowledge, the illumination of minds, and the enrichment of human understanding.

Life, education and career

Dr. Adil Naoum was born in Mosul, Iraq in 1937, where he received his early education. He went on to graduate from the Higher Teachers’ College in Baghdad, Iraq in 1958 with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics with distinction. He then taught at a secondary school in Baghdad from 1959 to 1962, before travelling to the United States to pursue graduate studies at New York University, where he earned his Master’s in Mathematics in 1962 and his Doctorate in Differential Topology in 1968.

Upon completing his PhD, he joined the College of Science at the University of Baghdad, rising from assistant professor to full professor. He served as Head of the Mathematics Department from 1986 to 1991 and held Visiting Professor positions at the University of Cambridge, Adelphi University, and the University of Wales. He published sixty-eight peer-reviewed papers and supervised sixty-four Master’s theses and forty doctoral dissertations, shaping generations of mathematicians across Iraq and the Arab world.

Honours and recognition

Dr. Naoum was named the Top Scientist in Iraq in Mathematics — the highest distinction of its kind, reflecting his unparalleled contributions to pure mathematics. He held membership in the American Mathematical Society, the British Mathematical Society, the Iraqi Society of Physics and Mathematics, and the Society of Friends of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. In 1996, he was elected a full member of the Iraqi Scientific Academy. The University of Baghdad honoured him by naming a prominent hall in the College of Science in his name.

Legacy

Dr. Naoum was as admired for his character as for his scholarship — known for his warmth, humility, and generosity of spirit. He leaves behind an enduring legacy in the hearts of all who knew him, learned from him, or worked alongside him.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Nedhal Abdalahad, his son Sam, and his daughter Ansam.

Service Details

Visitation

Saturday, June 13, 2026 · 10:00 – 11:00 am Banwell Community Church

2400 Banwell Rd, Windsor, ON · (519) 735-2654

Funeral Service

Saturday, June 13, 2026 · 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Banwell Community Church

2400 Banwell Rd, Windsor, ON

Interment

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Greenlawn Memorial Gardens

1805 ON-3, Oldcastle, ON

In lieu of flowers, donations to Matthew House Windsor would be appreciated by the family.