Herbert Habeeb (1917-1987), was born in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, on 11 August 1917, the son of Lebanese immigrants Nicholas Habeeb (1881-1976) and Nabeeha, also known as Mabel, Debs (1893 -1958). Herbert had two sisters, Lorraine (b. 1924) and Lily. Shortly after the birth of Lorraine, Nicholas and Mabel were divorced. Nicholas continued to operate a dry goods store in Grand Falls, while Mabel ran a beauty parlor in Los Angeles until her death. Nicholas remarried, to Stella Marie Fraser (1906-1991). Lorraine Habeeb, Herbert's sister married Calvin Morris and they had 1 son, Herbert Morris.

Lorraine had a life-long struggle with mental illness and was institutionalized several times while she lived in California. Lorraine and Calvin eventually divorced and Lorraine went to live with her mother, Mabel, and worked in the shop as a hairdresser. After Mabel died, Nicholas and Stella moved to California to run the beauty parlor. Lily Habeeb, the other sister, worked in a hospital in California and lived with Mabel until her death.

Herbert Habeeb grew up in Grand Falls and attended high school in Caribou, Maine. He received a B.Sc. from the University of New Brunswick in physics, chemistry and botany in 1938 and a Ph.D. from McGill University in Montreal, P.Q. in physical chemistry in 1941. He was employed at a number of institutions over his career: teacher at King's College, Windsor, N.S., 1941-1942; instructor in Physics, U.N.B., 1942-1945; assistant professor in Botany, University of Southern California, 1946; assistant professor in Chemistry, Purdue University, 1946-1948; professor in science, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, 1950-1954; associate professor in Physics, Auburn Community College, Auburn, N.Y., 1959-1962; associate professor in Physics, Western New Mexico University, Silver City, New Mexico, 1962-1964; and professor of Science, Auburn Community College, 1966-1973. Herbert Habeeb retired in 1973 to Ojai, Ventura, California.

Herbert Habeeb's academic research encompassed the study of mosses, algae, and water mites, primarily from the Grand Falls region. Over his career, he amassed an extensive collection of scientific samples and a large library. Herbert Habeeb was extensively published and also published his own series on water mite taxonomy from 1953-1984. He was also managing editor for the "Acadian Naturalist" (1943-1946). Herbert belonged to several scientific organizations: the New Brunswick Natural History Society (promoted the revival of the organization in the 1940s); American Bryological Society; New England Botanical Club; and the Torrey Botanical Club. Herbert never married and died in 1987 in Ojai, California.