Nadji Jordan Allan

Nadji Jordan Allan, world traveler and recent resident of Indianapolis, passed away on January 19th, 2025, at the age of 34.

Nadji was born on January 21, 1990 in Detroit. During his childhood in Dearborn, Michigan, Nadji was an active student, athlete, instrumentalist, and actor. Beloved by teachers at Woodworth and Lindbergh Elementary Schools, he was on the elementary school chess team, a cub scout, a soccer player and played the trombone. At Bryant Middle School Nadji continued in band and soccer and joined Boy Scout Troop 1104. By the time high school was over, Nadji had become a lead actor in school plays, excelled in Advanced Placement classes, and had been elected to be the Senior Patrol Leader for the scouts. His friends and his family will never forget his striving for excellence and his push to gain knowledge about every possible topic. He was an outstanding student, teammate, and friend, and he graduated as valedictorian of Dearborn High School, class of 2007.

Nadji’s passion for learning continued after high school. In 2007-2010, Nadji attended the University of Chicago and earned a bachelor’s in Political Science and a master’s degree in International Relations. In true Nadji spirit, he did crew team, theater, fencing and intramurals. He also spent a summer in Palestine and Jordan as part of his studies. After college graduation he worked at a non-profit think tank in Washington DC before being accepted to the University of Michigan Law School. Never one to stay still, he travelled to Africa and spent time as an exchange student in Luxemburg and Germany while working on his JD that he earned in 2017. After his college years were finished Nadji spent a year living in Australia before returning to the US to get a job as a legal editor. We have no doubt he would have eventually visited Antarctica to try to experience every continent.

With Covid lockdowns, Nadji became a nomadic remote-worker, living in various states, further exploring the world and his place in it. This isolated lifestyle unfortunately intensified his struggles with mental health. Then, in March of 2024, when Nadji was living in his beloved motorhome on the Louisiana coast, he was hit by a vehicle while a pedestrian. He very narrowly survived, and he suffered a traumatic brain injury. Almost miraculously, Nadji recovered from the accident.  By December he was back working full time and living in an Indianapolis apartment that he loved. He was excited for his future and for his part in the world. He had 'found himself' again.

Life, however, is not fair. In a cruel twist of fate, on a lazy Sunday, just days before his 35th birthday, Nadji suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. No cause has been identified. He passed while playing his favorite computer game. From the records, we know that he won the last match he finished, but did not finish his final match.

Nadji Jordan Allan, beloved brother, son, nephew, uncle, cousin, and friend was by all accounts a renaissance man. He hungered for knowledge and challenged convention. He brought joy to his friends and offered support to his family. He sought truth, equity, and goodness. He taught kindness, empathy, and love.

Nadji is survived by his mother and stepmother, Valerie Allan and Becky Lippincott; his father, Emad Allan; his brother, sister-in-law, and nieces, Mikel, Emily, AJ and Martine Allan; his brother and sister-in-law Ramsey and Jenny Allan, his sister Jinan Allan, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and dear ones who loved and cherished him.

A non-religious Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 1, at 2:00PM EST at Carmel Friends Church, 651 W. Main St, Carmel, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Safe Park Indy, in honor of Nadji’s deep concern for the struggling homeless of this country. Donations can be sent directly or by Venmo to @AMikel-Allan. If you do wish to send flowers, arrangements can be made with Hittle Floral Design and directed to Bussell Family Funerals in Carmel IN.

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