Elie Costi Sifri

Mausoleum crypt service will be held, Saturday, August 24th at 2 pm at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 400 SW Walters Road, Gresham, followed by a memorial service to be held, Sunday, August 25th at St George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2101 NE 162nd, Portland, Oregon after divine liturgy, about 11 am.

Elie Sifri fled his home in Jaffa, Palestine with his family, when he was 15 years old during the Palestinian diaspora of 1948. The family eventually settled in Amman, Jordan. After high school in Jordan, Elie worked for the State Department. It was there that he was provided an opportunity to study in the US. He had to take a Nation-wide exam and was one of three students awarded a scholarship for college in the US. Elie left Jordan and his family, boarding a ship in Beirut, entering the US at Hoboken, NJ. He traveled to Oregon in 1955, starting an engineering program at OSU. His scholarship covered tuition, but it required that he work in a fraternity to earn his room and board.

Elie graduated with his Bachelor in Science - Engineering and was hired by Cascade Corp. as a mechanical engineer in 1960. Cascade Corp supported Elie in taking the test for naturalization, and he obtained his US Citizenship in 1964.

Elie lived a full life coaching soccer, welcoming family to the US, and excelling in his field. He enjoyed dancing, swimming, Herb Alpert, Fairouz - The Voice of Lebanon, apple season, good friends and good food, and was always passionate about his home; Palestine. The word 'home' held great meaning to him beyond a place.

Elie went dancing with the beautiful girls in Jaffa and Haifa the morning of August 14th. His daughter, Dina welcomed him. He left behind his other adult children Christi Sifri and Costi Sifri (Debbie Henderson), grandchildren Blaine and Laurel Steele and Nick, Gabby and Josie Sifri, son-in-law Ron Trunick, wife Pam Sifri and OG Linda Sifri. Also mourning Elie’s passing are beloved nephews and nieces around the globe. 🇵🇸FREE PALESTINE FREE🇵🇸

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Doernbecher Children's Hospital.