Publisher Younis writes 30

Abed E. Younis

Abed E. Younis, the founding publisher of the longest running newspaper in the CNMI, Marianas Variety, passed away from natural causes Saturday morning at his home in Dandan. He was 83.

Younis is survived by his former wife, Maria Paz Tudela Castro, and six children—Banny, Laila, Amier, Farah, Suaad, and Salam.

Marianas Variety publisher Laila Younis Boyer said yesterday they are working on the details for a memorial service; they expect to finalize the details in the next day or so.

Younis was among the seven recipients of the Governor’s Humanities Award in 2014 and was awarded for his lifetime achievement in the humanities as founder of the Marianas Variety, which has covered the developments and issues in the NMI in the last 42 years at that time.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios later released a statement, saying they join the Marianas in mourning the passing of Younis, whom they described as “an icon and innovator in the Pacific.”

“We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to the Younis family and all the past and present staff of the oldest newspaper in the NMI, Marianas Variety,” Torres and Palacios said.

Torres and Palacios said that it was under Younis’ leadership when Marianas Variety placed itself at the forefront of journalism and public information for the CNMI and Micronesia. They said Younis created the first platform in the Western Pacific for important news and information from around the Marianas and around the world for almost 50 years.

“He has employed hardworking and dedicated people over the years and continued to do so, increasing our local capacity and inspiring the next generation of journalists, communications directors, and public information officers,” Torres and Palacios said.

In his later years, Younis opened up the popular Caravan of Food, a Mediterranean-style restaurant, so that he can share the flavors from his birthplace in Israel with the community he loved and called home.

“His passion and dedication to the people of the Marianas serve as an inspiration to all of us who looked up to him. We thank him for his service, and we will continue to ensure his legacy lives on within our closely knit Commonwealth,” Torres and Palacios said.

Younis first published the Marianas Variety on March 16, 1972, when he was asked to take over a local weekly newspaper, Marianas Star.

Younis was born in Ara Village in Israel, where he studied and later graduated in graphic arts and fine arts.

Among his artworks in the CNMI is the Joeten Enterprises logo today, the Hafa Adai logo.

In an interview for a project by Howard Willens and Deanne C. Siemer on Feb. 11, 1997, Younis recalled that he left Israel in 1970 for a cultural scholarship between Japan and Israel for students who had a specific specialty in certain fields. While in Japan, a company agreed to send him to Guam because it’s the closest destination where he can re-enter Japan in a different status as a working person and not as a student. Younis stayed in Guam for a couple of months until September 1971. As his U.S. visa was expiring, he was advised to better go to Saipan and change his immigration status and re-enter Guam.

On Saipan, Younis stayed in a small apartment unit in Chalan Kanoa for a supposed five-day visit. He, however, was able to make many friends on the island, met Maria Paz Castro, and got married. That’s when he decided to open YSR Studio, which was doing graphic arts services

After doing art work for the local weekly newspaper, Marianas Star, which was operated by two former Peace Corps volunteers, he was asked to take over the paper.

Younis subsequently agreed and changed its name to Marianas Variety, which was first published on March 16, 1972.

Younis worked also as a reporter, did the lettering by hand of the of the headlines, and other printing jobs. Younis said he used to personally hand-carry the paper to the Trust Territory printers to help them develop the plates and the film, bring it back, and print all night.

“I was optimistic. It was a one-man operation for many years,” Younis said during the interview.

He said they used to charge 5 cents and that the paper used to be “sort of loose sheets stapled [together].” Younis said Joeten Enterprises, which at that time was still a small store but pretty active, was their main advertiser, backer, and had ads every week.

In 1974, the newspaper’s printing was moved from Chalan Kanoa to Oleai. It was then later transferred to its present location in Garapan.

The paper was published twice a week in 1983. Then it became a five-day paper later in the ’80s.

Some Marianas Variety employees have been with the company for more than 25 years, so much so that employees call him “Pogi,” which is a Tagalog term for handsome.

When Younis was still active as publisher, he would regularly treat employees to food and drinks during weekends at bars and at their barracks in Dandan. Current and former employees also remember how Younis loved dancing and his love for painting, with his own studio in Dandan where he displayed some of his works.

Precinct 2 Rep. Tina Sablan (Ind-Saipan) said that Younis devoted his life to making the Commonwealth a better place and is best known for his role as Marianas Variety’s publisher and his decades of service in keeping the community informed about news in the Marianas, the region, and around the world.

She said he was respected for his fearlessness in speaking truth to power—a legacy that the people hope will continue to live on in all the Commonwealth’s citizens and journalists.

“My family and I offer our prayers and deepest sympathies to the Younises on the sad loss of their father and grandfather. He was deeply loved by his family and community, and will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace,” Sablan said.