Husayn A. Rashid
Dr. Husayn A. Rashid was born in Jerusalem in 1938. Although surrounded by a close and loving family, his childhood was not easy. At the age of 10, he saw his family lose the house that his father, a mason, built himself. The rest of his family then moved to a refugee camp in Jordan while Husayn and his cousin remained in Jerusalem, living with a relative, in order to complete their early education. Husayn later joined his family in Jordan to complete high school.
From an early age, Husayn was bright, hard-working and serious about his education. In his final year of high school, he obtained the highest score on the tawjihi, the national exam given to all students in Jordan and, as a result, earned a scholarship from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to study medicine at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon.
After graduating from AUB in 1962, he moved to Saudi Arabia to work as a doctor for Aramco. It was there he met the love of his life, Susan, who had come to Aramco from Kerala, India, to work as a nurse. The two made many lifelong friends there before moving to Rochester, NY, in 1970, where Husayn joined the urology residency program, eventually settling in Pittsford, NY, where they raised their three children.
Husayn passed away peacefully on October 2, 2023, roughly 17 months after Susan's passing. He is survived by his daughter (Rola) and two sons (Hani and Sami); his grandchildren (Devon, Lea, Noura and Viggo); his daughters-in-law (Megan and Kristina), and son-in-law (Christopher); two of his brothers (Husni and Belal), his sister (Ruwaida), and their families and the families of his late brothers, Hassan and Omar; as well as many other loving relatives, including Susan's brothers and sisters, and numerous friends.
From humble origins, Husayn went on to shape the lives of his family and countless others through his selflessness, generosity, and many talents. As a young doctor in Saudi Arabia, he sent most of his income home to Jordan to help his family and to ensure their education. Indeed, with his family in a refugee camp in Jordan, having left all of their belongings and fortune behind in Jerusalem, Husayn was the only source of support the family had for the higher education of his younger brothers, his sister, as well as the children of Husayn's eldest brother. Later, with Susan, he sponsored the immigration of many family members to the United States, providing them with the foothold for their future successes. And as a urologist, he built a successful practice, helped heal and counsel his patients, and trained many other urologists, including his eldest son, to do the same.
Husayn was a masterful gardener, who loved spending his weekends outside toiling in the soil and watching the trees and flowers he planted grow. He was wise: although he often listened patiently and only spoke briefly, when he spoke, people paid attention. He was principled, recognizing right from wrong with an intrinsic ease, but he was never rigid. He had a quiet wit, and exuded warmth and hospitality with his bright smile and kind eyes. He loved sharing meals with his family and friends, and always made sure they were well-fed. His love and respect for his family and his roots was a priority for him and that love was conveyed to his children and grandchildren.
Most of all, he was selflessly and endlessly caring and loving. He was hard-wired to always put others before himself, and wanted nothing more than for his wife, children, grandchildren, family and friends to thrive. That-the joy and comfort of those he loved-more than anything else is what made him happy.
For all of these reasons and so many more, we have been blessed to know him and to be loved by him. He will be deeply missed and we mourn his passing.
Visitation: Visitation will be held on Sunday (October 8) from 11 am-1 pm at Miller Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., 3325 S Winton Road, Rochester, NY 14623.
Lunch: Visitation will be followed by a lunch gathering at the Grand View Lodge in Powder Mills Park, 49 Woolston Road, Pittsford, NY 14534.