James Abourezk, the former Democrat United States senator from South Dakota, died aged 92 on Friday.
He was married to Sanaa Dieb, a prominent restaurant owner and chef in Sioux Falls.
Abourezk served in the United States Senate from 1973 to 1979 and was the first Arab American to serve in the Senate. He was a member of the Democratic Party and was known for his advocacy for Native American rights, as well as his opposition to the Vietnam War. He is of Lebanese descent and was raised in South Dakota.
Abourezk is widely regarded as the first Arab senator of the United States.
He was an opponent of the Vietnam War and was known for his efforts to end U.S. involvement in the conflict. During his time in the United States Senate from 1973 to 1979, he was a vocal critic of the war and worked to pass legislation that would end U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.
Who is Sanaa Dieb?
The former Senator met Dieb at an embassy event in Washington DC and got married in 1991. He was married twice before, first, to Mary Ann Houlton and then to Margaret Bethea. Apart from Dieb, he is survived by his children Charles Abourezk, Nikki Pipe On Head, Paul Abourezk, Alya Abourezk, and step-daughter, Chelsea Machado. Three of his children were with his first wife, while one was with Dieb.
According to reports, Dieb was not a restauranteur when she met Abourezk. They were married for several years before she moved to Sioux Falls to start the award-winning restaurant for which she is known widely. More details about her life and relationship with the former senator are not available.
