In Memoriam: Scott Alan Atiyeh, Salisbury High School Art Teacher

Artist, husband, father and teacher, Scott Alan Atiyeh, 50, died on Feb. 3, 2013 after courageously living with Glioblastoma multiforme for the past two years.

A resident of Allentown, Scott was an art teacher at Salisbury High School.  The strongest reflection of Scott was his love for his family, to whom he was endlessly devoted.  His wife, Dr. Christine Zitrides Atiyeh, and six-year-old daughter, Marina Sandra Atiyeh, were his world.

Born in Allentown Pennsylvania, Scott lived a bold and expansive life that he shared freely with everyone he met, whether here, in his longtime home, San Francisco, or anywhere else he lived around the globe. Scott was one of the first resident-artists of Bethlehem’s Banana Factory, where his evocative, multi-media works in terra cotta shocked, intrigued and inspired Lehigh Valley art patrons. Scott believed that art is a healing and transformative medium, a principle that guided his approach in the classroom, where Scott was known for his ability to reach all students.  

As a teacher, friend, colleague, or family member, Scott encouraged everyone to take risks, to live deliberately, and to embrace creativity, optimism and spirituality as he did each day of his life. Scott’s unabashed sense of humor and singularly vibrant persona forged a true trail of happiness for all who knew him.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Scott is also survived by his devoted and loving father, Salim Atiyeh; sister, Shannon Atiyeh Downtain and brother-in-law, Troy Downtain; niece and nephew, Callista and Gage Downtain; aunt, Kathryn Atiyeh Lemke; cousin, Marc Lemke; as well as his mother- and father-in-law, Bronwen and Thomas Zitrides. Scott is predeceased by his mother, Sandra Goodhart Atiyeh.

Too numerous to name are the friends, artists, educators, and students touched by Scott to whom his family is ever grateful for their support, encouragement, and love. A celebration of life will be planned in the future, but the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations are made to one of the two scholarships named in Scott’s honor: The Scott Atiyeh Scholarship Fund (providing access to the arts for at-risk children) c/o ArtsQuest, 25 West 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015 OR The Scott Atiyeh Memorial Scholarship c/o Salisbury Township Senior High School, 500 E. Montgomery St., Allentown, PA 18103.