Dr. Helmy El-Sherif, 74, of the Town of East Fishkill, passed away on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.
He was born in Cairo Egypt on September 27, 1937 and at fourteen years of age, was the youngest ever to graduate from high school. He went on to get a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering from Ain-Shams University in Cairo, Egypt where at nineteen years of age was again the youngest ever to graduate from a five-year engineering program with high honors. After graduating from college, he served as an instructor in the Electrical Engineering Department in the same University for two years. In December 1959, he sailed the ocean blue and arrived to New York on December 21, 1959 to start his graduate studies at Michigan State University, with only $46.00 on him. He obtained his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering in June 1961 and the Ph.D. degree in June 1964. He subsequently joined IBM Corporation as an Engineer and advanced through the ranks to the position of Program Director. In recognition of his efforts, IBM sent him to Harvard Business School under the Resident Study Program to obtain his Master's Degree in Business Administration, which he received in June 1980. Subsequently, he resumed his career at IBM and continued there for 44 years till his retirement on Jan 31, 2008.
Dr. El-Sherif was involved in many community programs. He served as a Boy Scout leader and soccer coach, was a member of the Toastmasters, Rotary, East Fishkill Republican Club and Committee and was a church deacon in charge of Fellowship, Youth Programs and Finance. In addition, he was the Chief Fund Agent for the Harvard Business School MBA Class of 1980. He was also a member of the Harvard Business School Alumni Association Board of Directors and taught various MBA classes at Marist College as an Adjunct Professor.
Dr. El-Sherif was predeceased by his wife, Charen S. El-Sherif and is survived by his daughter, Jennifer L. El-Sherif, PhD, Assistant Professor at Salem State University of Salem, MA; son, Kenneth H. El-Sherif, Vice President of Marketing at InSound Medical, a start-up in Newark, CA; daughter in-law, Diana Strenger El-Sherif; granddaughter, Alexandra Charen El-Sherif; grandson, Andrew Strenger El-Sherif; brother in-law, Richard Steeves of North Carolina; sister in-law, Norma Steeves of North Carolina; brother, Hamdy Sherif of Egypt; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Calling hours will be held on Monday from 7-9pm and Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Funeral Service will be on Wednesday at 11am at the Hopewell Reformed Church, 143 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction with Rev. Taylor Holbrook officiating. Interment will follow in Hopewell Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of the Hudson Valley, c/o William Brandt, 14 Evergreen Lane, Woodstock, NY 12498.
For driving directions, online condolences and memorial donations, please visit www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.