Magdy Mohamed Hassan

1955-2015

Our loving brother, husband, father, and friend, Magdy Hassan, passed away from cancer on January 29, 2015. He was born June 30, 1955 in Kartoum, Sudan to a Sudanese father, Mohamed Hassan and an Eritrean mother, Salamona Gebremedhin Towolda. She was a devout Christian who fought very hard to raise her children in the Christian faith. Magdy had a difficult life with many challenges yet he was always smiling & optimistic and never gave up on his dreams. At 3 years old he was badly burned which paralyzed his leg, a disability he lived with all of his life. He eventually made his way to Egypt, then Greece, and finally America where he found the medical help he was desperately looking for. He lived in California before coming to Salt Lake. He was an example of what can be overcome even in the face of great adversity. He became a U.S. citizen and got his high school diploma. With help from the Vocational Rehabilitation program, he earned an associate degree from Salt Lake Community College and a certificate in small engine repair and took many classes toward a computer support A+ certification. He worked as an Arabic interpreter at the University of Utah and LDS hospitals and as an account representative for Teleperformance. For a number of years he was active in the Eritrean community.

In 2001 he returned to Sudan where he met and married Saba Abraham. With help from Margo Sotiriou and Sen. Hatch’s office he was able to bring Saba to Utah later that year. He cared deeply about his wife & children always wanting to make them happy and give them a wonderful life. No matter how ill he was, he was never too sick to care for his children. His children remember him as smart, strong and a “phenomenal” person who took them to McDonald’s and the park. He is survived by his brother Abraham Gebremedhin Solomon (Michele), his wife, Saba Abraham and four young children: Sally (11), Joshua (5), Mercy (3) and Ezekiel (1). He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 half brothers, Ghirmai Gebremedhin Solomon and Asafawo Gebremedhin Solomon. Magdy felt very sad that he was unable to see his mother again before she died late last year. Now they are together. Rest in Peace. Your pain and hardships are over. We will miss you always and forever. Till we meet again.

The family wishes to thank the Philoptochos Society for their support over many years. They also want to thank the many caring staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the U of U Hospital, St. Joseph Villa, and the Family Support Center.

Services will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at Holy Trinity Cathedral at 279 South 300 West Salt Lake City beginning at 11 am with a short prayer service followed by a funeral service. Burial will be at Mt Olivet Cemetery 1342 E. 500 S. Salt Lake City.