Ayad Badrous

Ayad Badrous, loving brother, father and uncle, and lifelong friend to many, passed away on Tuesday, July 8th.

Obituary

Ayad Badie Badrous passed away on Tuesday, July 8th in Concord, CA at the age of 73. He had struggled with Parkinson’s for nearly a decade, but ultimately suffered a heart attack on his way to church on what seemed like a very normal morning, leaving us in shock. Ayad was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1952. He was one of six children – three boys followed by three girls – born to Fayka Ghattas and Badie Maar, a carpenter. Ayad moved to San Francisco in 1981 and remained in the Bay Area until his passing, eventually settling in Pleasant Hill.

Early in his life Ayad was full of energy. He traveled to Europe and the U.S., and he partnered with a friend to open a gift shop at the Pyramids of Giza. He could instantly tell which country someone was from when they walked in and greet them in their native language, charming them from hello. He was an excellent host who loved showing people around his city, whether that was Cairo or eventually San Francisco, ordering everything on the menu or taking them to unique sites and rolling out the red carpet for them.

After moving to the U.S. and starting a family, Ayad worked long hours, but he always made time for his daughters — soccer games, swim meets, homework — and outside projects, like home renovations (before there were instructional YouTube videos!) and classes at the local community college (from English Literature to Real Estate). He loved making his daughters laugh, cooking for them — weekend pancakes, weekday morning smoothies, dinners of baked chicken and onions, and his famous fried potatoes — and going on walks at the Lafayette Reservoir with them. He was quick to help anyone who needed it, whether it was a ride to the airport, a fix-it project, or a listening ear. He enjoyed reading the Bible and learning about the history of the Saints, and he was a devout parishioner and volunteer at several Catholic and Coptic churches throughout the Bay Area.

Late in his life he slowed down, but he could still keep his grandson and grandnieces and nephews laughing with funny facial expressions and endless peek-a-boo. He gave gentle and nonjudgmental advice. He believed there were no bad people, only people who were doing bad things in a given moment. Forgiveness came easily to him, and he demonstrated every day that most small irritations or issues are simply not worth getting upset over. He read his prayer book every morning and every night, and he encouraged everyone to read the Book of Psalms and the Gospel of John. He loved ice cream and popsicles and enjoyed sharing them with friends and family as often as possible.

He was lucky to be surrounded by loved ones, friends and family, who helped him and cared about him. He is survived by: his sister Magda Badrous, her husband Ezat Badrous, and their sons Mina Ezat Badrous (and his wife Lana and children Oliver and Malia) and Bishoy Badrous; his nephew Mina Maher Badrous (and his wife Christine and their children Vobian, Parthenia, and Perla); and his daughters Alison Grashaw (and her husband Robert and son Henry) and Jessica Badrous. In Egypt he is survived by his sister Yvonne (and her daughters Therese and Ireny) and his sister Mary (and her husband Alfred and daughter Youstina).

He was preceded in death by his two older brothers, Mourice (survived by his wife Nabila and daughters Marianne, Marina, Madeleine, and Mary) and Maher (survived by his wife Mervet, and sons Michel and Mina Maher).

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