Adel Roland Barakat

Adel Roland Barakat

11/26/1938-09/27/2024

Born in Cairo, Egypt; Died at home in West Chester, PA

Dr. Adel Barakat was a devoted surgeon, husband, father, grandfather, and friend and a large presence in his community throughout his life. Adel died at home with family due to complications of end-stage renal disease at the age of 85.

Adel was born in Cairo to Charles Barakat (Lebanese) and Margarite (Cifali; daughter of Italian immigrants to Egypt); he was the third child with an older brother and sister (who predeceased him) and a younger sister (in Brazil). He met his wife Hilda (Batarseh), a refugee to Egypt from Palestine, through scouting, and they married in 1962. Both were educated in Christian primary and secondary schools run by French missions in Egypt, and they were members of the Roman Catholic and Maronite communities in the United States. His family’s story is one of the diaspora for those from the Middle East and for Middle Eastern Christians in particular—he and Hilda have family and friends living across many countries including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and France.

Adel had a distinguished career as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand surgery. To honor his grandfather, a renowned physician at the court of the Khedive Ismail of Egypt, Adel chose the medical profession and excelled in it. Following his medical degree from Cairo University Medical School in 1962 and his internship at Cairo University Hospital, he and Hilda moved to Kuwait for his general surgery residency at Kuwait Amirie Hospital. In 1966, with Hilda and children, he immigrated to the United States for his general orthopedic surgery residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, and then his pediatric orthopedics internship at the State Hospital for Crippled Children in Elizabethtown, PA. His first staff position was at Geisinger after he completed his hand surgery fellowship at Jefferson University; later, he established a very successful private practice in Scranton, PA, until his retirement in 1996. He was a fine clinician, a superbly skilled surgeon, and an excellent teacher and mentor. During his entire career he was celebrated for his respect for his patients, integrity in the delivery of healthcare, and above all great bedside manner.

Adel was a devoted husband to his wife, Hilda, to whom he was married for 46 years and who predeceased him in 2009. He was very proud of his children, Lamia Barakat and Rami Barakat, whom he loved and respected immensely, and he delighted in his grandchildren, Ariek, Reema, and Laila (Lamia) and Khalil, Gabriel, and Zion (Rami). He was a caring, supportive father-in-law to his son-in-law, Brad Norford (Lamia), and daughter-in-law, Deirdre Murray (Rami). He would never hesitate to mention that the two nicest persons he had ever met in his life, were his two children. He was a consistent presence in their lives, offering support, advice, and affirmation. He very proudly stated that his grandchildren were the greatest gift ever given to him and played an active role in guiding them all to adulthood and shaping who they have become.

In addition to his profession and his family, Adel was a painter whose artwork adorns scores of walls in various settings including the homes of his children and grandchildren. He was a long-time member of the Hershey’s Mill Art Club. Adel was a deep lover of classical music and opera and a dabbler in golf and tennis. His free time was spent reading articles related to the interests and lives of his grandchildren, doing crossword puzzles, and calling and visiting with his children, grandchildren, and friends gathered over the course of a lifetime. He had a keen sense of humor but also a serious storytelling side, sharing informational stories, family history, and advice to any audience. He remained in contact with his cousins, brother- and sisters-in-law, and childhood friends from the LaSalle College in Cairo and through scouting in his youth as well as from Danville, Scranton, and West Chester, PA.

We are thankful for the care Adel received from DaVita Westtown Dialysis and from Penn Medicine Hospice.

A private funeral and burial are planned. A celebration of his life for family and friends will be held at a future date. Donations may be made in his memory to Doctors without Borders (https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/) or UNRWA (via the United Nations at https://donate.unrwa.org/-landing-page/en_EN).

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