Father of Maya del Sol's owner dies

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 6:15 PM

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By Marty Stempniak

Staff Reporter

The father of the man who owns Maya del Sol in Oak Park died on Friday, following an emotional piece he wrote to Wednesday Journal this month about his dad’s ailing health.

Anan Abu-Taleb and his brother attempted to visit their father during the holiday season in the Gaza Strip. But after an entire day of travel, they reached an Israeli military checkpoint and were turned away, just 15 minutes from their parents’ home.

“On Dec. 24, upon arriving in Oak Park, it truly hit me,” he wrote. “It became clear that I might not say goodbye to my father the way I wanted to. Anger, frustration, hopelessness, and deep sadness penetrated my soul.”

Anan’s wife and co-owner of the restaurant, Margi, informed us of her father-in-law’s passing earlier this week. Click here to read Anan Abu-Taleb’s full letter to the editor.