Dr. Bert Bahgat Souryal

He was born on January 16, 1938 to Sabit Souryal and Moufida Mankarios in Asyut, Egypt and was the youngest of four boys. Raised in the Coptic Orthodox Church, he deepened his relationship with the Lord as a teenager at a summer camp in Beit el Salam, near Alexandria, Egypt. Bert met some of his best friends there as well as his future wife, Ferial, whom he married in 1966. They immigrated to Northern Virginia in 1969, joining his three older brothers in the United States.

Bert earned his medical degree in Egypt to become an Ophthalmologist and completed a residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. Bert settled in the Washington DC metropolitan area to join Dr. George H. Ray, MD, in private practice, whose business he eventually bought and managed. Bert’s professional career as a physician and surgeon spanned more than four decades, until his semi-retirement in 2003. As a board-certified ophthalmologist, he treated thousands of patients of all ages and walks of life with care and kindness, not only restoring their sight but also nurturing their souls.

Bert was a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons and was an esteemed attending physician at numerous hospitals in Washington, DC, where he enjoyed training residents in various surgical procedures. He particularly cherished his tenure at the Washington DC VA Medical Center where he served members of our nation’s armed forces.

Bert was a member of the Christian Ophthalmology Society for many years and his true passion was his volunteer medical work in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean. His myriad experiences included performing cataract surgeries on the Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, training doctors and residents in rural areas of Egypt, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya, and providing relief for refugees fleeing conflicts and natural disasters, most recently bringing aid to victims of last year’s earthquake in Turkey.

Bert valued people and treated everyone with dignity and respect. He was a social butterfly who flitted between diverse, multi-cultural groups with humility, grace and humor. He loved God above all else, but loved people almost as much as he loved his family, and traveled to the ends of the earth to spread God’s love. Bert was generous with his empathy and worked to meet the needs of those around him in tangible ways. He continually dedicated himself to reading the Scriptures and took every opportunity to grow in knowledge and truth. There was rarely an Arabic Christian conference or camp where he was not in attendance, and he was committed to wholeheartedly cultivating his lifelong friendships. Bert loved to travel and felt at home wherever he went. He loved hymns and classical music, especially Beethoven’s 6th Symphony, and he would often sing joyfully with his children and grandchildren. His wit and sense of humor entertained family, friends and strangers alike.

Bert delighted in birds and enjoyed tending to his many fruit trees, particularly the figs, which he nurtured and guarded from his one true enemy: squirrels.

He is survived by his wife Ferial, his children Shirley, Carolyn, Steven and Laurie, and his grandchildren Laith, Lance, and Lexi.

A service of Remembrance and Celebration for Dr. Bert B. Souryal’s life is scheduled for 2:00 PM on June 22nd at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Beit el Salam, which held a special place in his heart. Beit El Salam is a Christian camp near Alexandria, Egypt. To donate, checks may made payable to “Arabic Christian Fellowship” with “Beit el Salam / Souryal” in the memo line and sent to:

Arabic Christian Fellowship

8800 Walther Blvd. #2308

Parkville, MD 21234

Memo: Beit el Salam / Souryal