MARCH 2023

CULTURE & HISTORY
Habib Hannona: A man of many talents
BY ADHID MIRI, PHD.
Pioneers deserve recognition
and celebration. They serve as
our foundation, a guiding force
toward an advanced and progressive
society. They act as catalysts for passing
wisdom onto new generations,
inspiring individuals to become their
best selves.
Habib Hannona is a living example
of one such pioneer. His achievements
in the United States, Kuwait,
and Iraq exemplify human strength,
enduring spirit, survival, and success.
We write about him using his
historic contributions and academic
recollections in the context of his time
and his generation.
As an author, engineer, linguist,
painter, poet, and historian, Habib
Hannona has had an illustrious career,
illuminating the way for others. As an
historian, he takes a long view toward
a better place and brighter future. As
an engineer, he believes in the construction
of a moral Christian society
and sterling values. His story is a remarkable
one, and he is truly a shining
star in our universal community.
Above: Habib Hannona,
painting his wife, 2010.
Left: Painting a friend, 1959.
Personal Biography
Habib Matti Petrus Hannona Mahanna
Mahlalaeel Nissan Al- Hannona
is a Chaldean Christian, an American
citizen, who was born in the town of
Karemlash in the Nineveh Province of
Iraq in 1943.
The youngest of five siblings, he
has four sisters - Hanneh, Mia/Meriam,
Anisa, and Kameela. His parents, Matti
Putrus and Naiema Behnam Abdal,
were native to the village of Karemlash.
Married to Jamila Suleiman Matti
Al-Qutta after a 4-year love story, the
couple have two daughters, Taghreed
and Tan, and two sons, Thamer and
Ragheed. The 3 older children were
born in Basrah, Iraq, and the youngest,
Ragheed, in Baghdad. Married
since February 4th, 1972, Habib and
Jamila have 11 grandchildren.
Habib came to the United States
with his family on Christmas Eve
1991. He says, “My journey was not
easy; America is the place you come
to change your life. America is the
place to start a new life. That is why I
came to America.”
Education
Habib Hannona completed his primary
education at the Karemlash School,
Um Al-Rabeien Intermediate School in
Mosul, and he attended night school
at Ja’fariya secondary school in Baghdad
in 1960.
Following high school graduation,
Habib joined the Higher Institute of
Languages/University of Baghdad ​to
study English and German Languages
for two years. From there, he traveled
to West Germany to study architecture.
He returned to Iraq in 1964, eager
to further his education. Habib took
advantage of the opportunities offered
by the Jesuit’s at Al-Hikma University
in Baghdad to study civil engineering.
Many of his talents emerged
during his studies with the Jesuits,
supported by a creative environment
that encouraged painting, literature,
poetry, theater, and scientific research.
He held several personal exhibitions
of his paintings over a period
of three years, 1965-1967.
In 1967, Habib was hired by an
engineering company operating in
Kirkuk, so he postponed his studies
for two years.
In 1968, after the government nationalization
of Al-Hikma University,
he rejoined the University of Baghdad
to complete his studies and graduated
with a B.S. in Civil Engineering
in 1971.
After graduation, Habib worked
with various companies for 3 years,
eventually establishing his own engineering
company for general contracting
in Basra, the Eridu Construc-
32 CHALDEAN NEWS MARCH 2023