Jalal Talabani, a prominent figure in Middle Eastern politics, passed away on October 3, 2017 at the age of 83. Talabani was born in 1933 in the Iraqi-Kurdish town of Kalkan to a farmer’s family. In 1945 he joined the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and gained prominence as a leader in the Kurdish resistance movement against the successive Sadam Hussein and Baathist regimes. He was an influential in his role as part of the leadership of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in 1975. In the early 21st century, Talabani was elected president in 2005, becoming the first and only non-Arab president of Iraq. Following his term as president, Talabani remained a political force in Iraqi politics and maintained an active role in his country’s politics. Talabani was renowned for his commitment to his nation and its welfare and was widely respected for his peacemaking skills. He was recognized with numerous awards, including the Medal of Freedom, granted to him by President George W. Bush in 2008 and France’s Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor in 2011. Talabani is survived by his wife and three children. He will be remembered as a beloved family member, a beloved leader, and a beloved patriot.