Fahim Bakhoum Obituary

Dr. Fahim Bakhoum ("Grandpa/Gedo", 82) of Rye, New York, departed to the Paradise of Joy on July 1st, 2025, beloved and surrounded by his family. Devoted husband, patient and loving father, cherished grandfather, dedicated physician and respected member of St. Mary & St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Manhattan, he lived a life defined by profound love, faithfulness, integrity, discipline and humility.
He is predeceased by his sisters Samia Dimyan and Fahima Ibrahim. He is survived by his treasured wife of 49 years, Dr. Violette Bakhoum of Rye, NY; his children: Drs. Samuel and Ashley Bakhoum of Rye, NY, and Drs. Mathieu and Christine Bakhoum of Guilford, CT, and his beloved grandchildren; Sophia Violette and Anna Victoria Bakhoum of Rye, NY and Lukas Mathieu, Jonah Mathieu and Gianna Marie Bakhoum of Guilford, CT; his siblings Thanaa Loka, Nadia Hermina, Aida Haron, Neroze Bakhoum, and Magdy Bakhoum. All were a source of great joy and pride. He was steadfast in his devotion to family and gladly sacrificed much to provide his sons, Samuel and Mathieu, with every opportunity to pursue lives guided by principle, conviction and the pursuit of knowledge for humanity through Christ. Gedo intimately knew each of his grandchildren, nurturing their young lives with the sincerest patience, wisdom and unconditional love. No problem was too small or story too long for his focused attention and prayer.
Dr. Bakhoum led a deeply impactful life both professionally and in the church. He was a dedicated physician, completing training in Surgery, Urology, and then in Obstetrics and Gynecology and established a non-profit hospital in Alexandria, Egypt, associated with his church, that serves all people regardless of their ability to pay. To support this community endeavor, he established a charitable fund in the hospital itself - with all employees volunteering 10% of their salary to support essential medical service for those in need. He quietly built this from the ground up with two of his closest friends, and it has now become one of the largest hospitals in Alexandria, featuring one of the top-ranked Obstetrics and Gynecology departments. He also spent several years providing vital medical care in Nigeria. As he grew older, he continued his life of service by studying psychology to counsel families in the church, offering advice and guidance on how to raise their little ones. He was renowned for his knowledge of scripture and theological literature and actively led bible study groups and supported countless individuals by providing a listening ear, sage advice, and heartfelt prayers. Through these many contributions, he was a remarkable father and example of God's love – inspiring the love of service in the hearts of his family and community. No matter how late he worked, he made sure his boys attended mass, respectfully and on time, and had the best educational opportunities – driving them to school an hour early each day to read to them from a children's encyclopedia, eventually completing the entire series. While he always believed in the importance of medicine, he fostered in his boys a passion for science – the pursuit of knowledge, for the sake of knowledge. Both became physician-scientists and share his precision and attention to detail, eternal hope, stubborn convictions, and legacy of service by transforming cancer and patient care. Until the end, he followed their work with great interest.
A memorial service celebrating Dr. Bakhoum's life will be held at St. Mary & St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Manhattan, NY, on Saturday, July 5, at 9 AM. Burial will follow at the Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye, NY.