Gabe Huck, an educator, author, and known for his humanitarian work with displaced families in the Middle East, passed away on June 30, 2026, according to announcements from community organizations and educational groups.
Throughout his life, Huck worked alongside his wife, Theresa Kubasak, to support refugees displaced by conflict. Their efforts spanned from 2005 to 2012 in Damascus and later extended to Turkey, providing educational pathways and community support for young people fleeing violence in Iraq and Syria.
Colleagues and students remember Huck for a life defined by simplicity, integrity, and cross-cultural solidarity. To honor his enduring impact on education and peacebuilding, his family and supporters have established a scholarship endowment in his name at Emory University.
Humanitarian Work in Damascus and Turkey
Gabe Huck and Theresa Kubasak moved to Damascus in 2005, initiating a grassroots effort to aid the large population of Iraqi citizens who had fled to Syria following the 2003 United States-led invasion of Iraq.
Operating out of a small apartment in the Syrian capital, the couple established the Iraqi Student Project. Through this initiative, they provided regular tutoring sessions for young Iraqis seeking admission to universities in the United States. Concurrently, they built a network of supporters across American university campuses who advocated for institutional enrollment and offered long-term community support for arriving students.
When civil conflict subsequently engulfed Syria, Huck and Kubasak relocated their operations to Turkey. There, they expanded their mission to include Syrian youth fleeing the ongoing conflict in their homeland, creating what Kubasak has described as an extended family of students and supporters united in peacebuilding efforts.
Literary Legacy and Memoir
The experiences of Huck and Kubasak in the Middle East were documented in their 2016 memoir, Never Can I Write of Damascus, published by Just World Books. The book offers a firsthand account of daily life among displaced students and reflects on the resilience of communities impacted by regional warfare.
The publication garnered praise from international scholars and peace advocates. International lawyer and peace activist Richard Falk described the work as a captivating love letter to the culture and people of Syria. International-affairs analyst Stephen Kinzer characterized the memoir as a refreshing counterpoint to prevailing foreign stereotypes.
In a review for The Catholic Worker, Glen Lawrence commended the authors for their tireless dedication to peace and justice, describing the book as a vital portrait of a land profoundly affected by modern conflicts.
The Gabe Huck Scholarship Endowment
To preserve his commitment to education as a tool for peace, Kubasak has spearheaded the creation of the Gabe Huck Scholarship Endowment at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. The initiative also involves archiving Huck’s writings, lectures, and journals at Emory’s Pitts Theology Library.
Organizers have set a fundraising goal of $100,000 to establish the endowment in perpetuity, which will provide ongoing scholarship support in Huck’s name. The fund has currently reached the halfway mark of its financial goal.
Remembering a Life of Simplicity and Music
Beyond his humanitarian and literary work, Huck maintained a deep commitment to community and creative collaboration. Friends and family remember him for his personal humility and his dedication to fostering understanding across diverse backgrounds, countries, and faiths.
His collaborative spirit extended into music. Huck co-wrote the song “From the Many, We Are One” with Dr. Tony Alonso, published by GIA Publications in Chicago. The piece became a nightly ritual and blessing sung by family and friends around their table in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
As communities worldwide reflect on his contributions, supporters continue to share memories and condolences through educational networks and peace advocacy groups. Further updates regarding the scholarship endowment and archival preservation at Emory University will be shared through institutional channels as the fundraising campaign progresses.
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