Wafiek Guirguis

Wafiek Guirguis, born on October, 19, 1937, Wafiek grew up in Alexandria Egypt. He attended Alexandria University and received his medical degree in 1960. Wafiek married his soulmate and childhood sweetheart, Soad, in 1964. Wafiek found his devotion and true calling in medicine. He began in general practice in the village of Kafre Ashma in Monfia, where he also served as the town's Mayor for seven years. He then moved back to Alexandria where he served as an infectious disease doctor, one of only a few, and battled diseases like small pox, cholera, and mumps on a daily basis. He was also dedicated to his private practice in Alexandria for over thirteen years. In 1980, in an effort to make a better life for his children, Wafiek took his family and immigrated to America. After starting over and completing his residency at Huron Road Hospital, Wafiek moved to Fairview Hospital as an anesthesiologist. Wafiek spent the next thirty years at Fairview Hospital where he had a distinguished career marked by many honors, including being named the head of both the anesthesia department and the cardiac intensive care unit. Wafiek is also well known for his pride in and closeness with Cleveland's Egyptian-American community. He and his family were among the founding families of St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church in Seven Hills, and he was actively involved in the church throughout his lifetime. He also enjoyed celebrating his Egyptian heritage and often shared details of his homeland with others. Wafiek was a world traveler and he enjoyed listening to classical music. He was faithful and devoted to reading his Bible and, until the day he died, he could be seen studying it daily. His favorite activity, however, was enjoying the company of his friends and family, and his warmth, generosity and loyalty knew no bounds. He was a role model and a mentor to all who were lucky enough to know him and his gentle guidance and kindness will be missed. Wafiek is survived by his wife, Soad, his three sons, Eric (Amy) of Westlake, Ohio, Michael (Maureen) of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Amir of Sarasota; and grandchildren James, Andrew, Thomas, Gabriel, Julian, Adrian, and Katie; and his brothers Wagdy in Hawaii, Amir in Fort Myers, Florida, and Hany in Hawaii. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, 2100 East Pleasant Valley Rd., Seven Hills, Ohio 44131 or Sts. Peter & George Coptic Orthodox Church, 25800 Hilliard Blvd, Westlake, Ohio 44145. Funeral services will be held at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church at noon on Saturday, February 6, 2021 and will limited to family only due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it will be livestreamed on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/StMarkCopticOrthodoxChurchCleveland