"We lived in good times, now we live in the memory of those times." 鈥 Laurice Chalhoub
Laurice Chalhoub fondly recalls her late husband, Amado Chalhoub, as a man of great charm and integrity, deeply respected in the Tripolitan community. Known for his talent as a jazz pianist, Amado was a man who loved culture and kept himself informed, collecting clippings from a tower of newspapers in their home. 鈥淗e was always abreast of the latest cultural news, not only in Lebanon but in Brazil too,鈥 Laurice says with a smile, her voice full of admiration.
Amado鈥檚 dedication to his role as the Fair鈥檚 Director went beyond mere duty. "He didn鈥檛 just oversee the Fair; he adopted it like it was his child,鈥 Laurice recalls. The idea to establish a fair in Tripoli had come from Rachid Karami, a close friend and influential political figure. Along with Ren茅 Mouawad, Karami proposed over lunch that Amado take on the role of Director. It was a moment that would change the course of Amado鈥檚 life, and the future of Tripoli.
One of Amado鈥檚 first significant decisions as Director was to invite Oscar Niemeyer, the world-renowned Brazilian architect behind Bras铆lia, to design the Fair.Laurice vividly remembers how this partnership came about through a mutual Brazilian friend. "Oscar and Amado became close very quickly," she says. Niemeyer would stay at their house during his visits to Tripoli, often using Amado鈥檚 desk for his sketches. 鈥淗e would sketch endlessly, papers all over the place,鈥 Laurice recalls with a chuckle. 鈥淥scar enjoyed being with us because we spoke Portuguese鈥攈e felt at home.鈥
Laurice also treasures the memory of one particular conversation with Niemeyer during his visit. He described his home in Rio de Janeiro to her, with no paintings on the walls, only large windows overlooking trees and flowers, allowing the sounds of birds to fill the house. "He said he wanted to build something similar at the Fair, for us to live in," Laurice says, surprised at how vividly the memory lingers. Though Niemeyer did design a director鈥檚 house, Laurice and Amado never had the chance to live there. 鈥淚 never saw it because I didn鈥檛 return to the Fair after Amado died,鈥 she adds, her words heavy with the weight of that loss.
Their social life during these years was equally vivid in Laurice鈥檚 memory. She recalls a particularly memorable dinner hosted by Riad El Solh, where Amado translated for Niemeyer as they showcased a film of the architect鈥檚 work to Lebanon鈥檚 elite.
It marked Niemeyer鈥檚 formal introduction to the Lebanese cultural and political scene, with Amado frequently acting as the intermediary, translating and building connections between Niemeyer and the local community.
Throughout this time, the project was alive with vibrant energy, supported by influential figures like Belgian planning expert Jean-Pierre Michel. Laurice reflects on the photos she shared: one capturing the President of Senegal visiting the Fair site, another showing a Japanese delegation, and most precious to her, a picture of Amado and Niemeyer together at the St. George Hotel in Beirut. 鈥淭hat photo at St. George is very dear to me,鈥 she says softly.
However, the Fair鈥檚 future dimmed with the tragic loss of many of its key supporters. Laurice recounts how, in quick succession, Rachid Karami, Ren茅 Mouawad, and Amado all passed away鈥攈er husband in 1978 following a car accident. 鈥淭he people who worked on it worked really hard and tired themselves out,鈥 she reflects. 鈥淚 feel very sorry that the Fair isn鈥檛 working, that Amado鈥檚 dream was extinguished.鈥
Despite the heartache, Laurice holds onto the precious memories of their time together in Tripoli. 鈥淭he years we spent there, before Amado passed away, were the happiest of my life,鈥 she shares. Since his death, she has never returned to the Fair. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 been back,鈥 she says quietly. 鈥淲e lived in good times, now we live in the memory of those times.鈥
Laurice鈥檚 recollections are a poignant tribute to Amado鈥檚 passion, vision, and unwavering commitment to the Fair鈥攁 dream he nurtured but never fully realized.
Through her words, Amado's legacy lives on, forever woven into the story of the Fair and the city of Tripoli.
