François Selim “Francis” Moussalli, 94, peacefully passed away surrounded by family in Richmond, Va., in the late hours of Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018.
François was born Aug. 16, 1923, in Cairo, Egypt, to Selim Moussalli and Adele Chackal Moussalli. Selim passed away when François was only a year old, leaving François to be raised by his late sisters, Odette and Yolande; his widowed mother, Adele, and her brother, Naoum Chackal.
Francois excelled in his primary and secondary education, graduating from the Christian Brothers School in Cairo at the early age of 16. An accomplished chemist, he received formal industry education in Switzerland in the years following World War II and returned to Cairo to establish a successful and prosperous textile business.
François married his late wife, Mary Sayegh Moussalli, on April 7, 1951, celebrating over 50 years of marriage before her passing on Jan. 13, 2002. François and Mary had four daughters in Cairo before a dramatic change in political affairs in the country forced the young family to immigrate to America in 1962. François courageously restarted his career, transferring his advanced textile knowledge to the United States market and retiring with six U.S. patents to his name.
A man of high intellect, charming eccentricities, and incredible strength of will, François’s Catholic faith played a fundamental role in his determination and perseverance through difficult times and nourished his abundant love for his family.
François was a member of the Third Order of St. Dominic and a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. In his very active retirement, he brought communion to the sick and dying, wrote a manuscript of his family’s history; helped raise his grandchildren; and enthusiastically shared his experience and knowledge of chemistry and the industry to which he had dedicated his professional life in mentoring many Ph.D. candidates from the University of Virginia, delighting in their subsequent successes.
He is survived by his four daughters, Clarice, Carole, Colette and Christiane, and her husband, John Stoffer; three grandchildren, Mason and James Harkrader and Matthew Thornton; and sister-in-law, Linda Sayegh.
A viewing will take place at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 9, at Saint Bede Catholic Church, Williamsburg, to be followed by a funeral Mass at 1 p.m., with interment thereafter in Williamsburg Memorial Park.
Share online condolences with the family at nelsenwilliamsburg.com.
