Sarkis Moussa El-Zein slipped into the hands of our heavenly Father on Monday, February 19, 2024. His passing is a loss to the world, and he is mourned by all those who were fortunate to know him. Sarkis passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer. Born to Moussa and Gatha El-Zein, in Bkarzala Lebanon, Sarkis was one of seven children, and a blessing to his family. Ever since he was a schoolboy, he was a giver and selfless in nature. God blessed him to bless others. He was always the top of his class and dedicated all his time to helping his family. After graduating, Sarkis received a full scholarship to the University of Southern California for a Ph.D. in mathematics. After getting his degree, he still had a strive for education and became an actuary and began working at American Automobile Association in Southern California.  Sarkis met his loving wife Lina through a mutual friend and married the love of his life in 1990. The couple spent happy days together among their friends in sunny Los Angeles for five years. They then moved to Lebanon where Sarkis worked at Globmed Lebanon and they had their children, Mussa and Widad.

Anyone who knew Sarkis knew that he was the most loving husband, father, sibling, and son a family could ask for. The 34 years he spent with his wife were full of respect, trust, love, and good times. As a father, he dedicated all his time and energy to raising his children into wonderful people who value everything he did. He did everything to ensure them a bright and successful future. Sarkis was a family man and valued nothing higher than spending quality time with his wife and kids. Sarkis has always been family oriented and remained loyal and available to all his siblings no matter the miles and circumstances that separated them. His wonderful qualities all began from his loyalty, respect, and unconditional dedication to his parents making him the ideal son. He shared this same love with his community of friends, professionals, and acquaintances. He was a natural mentor to his colleagues and professional team providing them with fatherly guidance and room to grow. He made the time to show up for everyone who reached out, providing caring, trustworthy, and sound counsel always.

Sarkis was strong willed and stubborn at times, but he also had an enormous heart and wonderful sense of humor. He was generous, loyal, and brave. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all his life experiences. Sarkis was never frivolous with his words and every decision he made was grounded and calculated; his say in many discussions was known to be reliable and final. Sarkis was a gentle soul who always brightened any gathering he was a part of and left everlasting impressions of kindness and intelligence in anyone who met him. Peace and caring permeated him, and kindness felt like it was his middle name. Sarkis loved gardening and nature. He can often be found among his plants and trees or taking long walks to admire the greenery. He has left his mark on this earth in all the trees and flowers he planted and raised.

After retiring from Globemed in 2019, Sarkis still had a hunger for life and relocated to Columbus Ohio where he continued working as an actuary. Sarkis was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 and he fought strongly and stubbornly with his illness, showing his strength, will power and bravery. Sarkis was a truly great man whose impact will be forever felt by his family, that loves him dearly. He was a selfless man whose passing left an unfillable gap in the hearts of his loved ones. His ability to sacrifice, provide, support, forgive, and love will be forever engrained in all he knew. When his time came, he carried himself with dignity, strength, and full of love for those who went before him.   You have left a hole in our hearts Sarkis, we will miss you dearly – Lina, Mussa & Widad.

Private service arrangements entrusted to O. R. Woodyard Northwest Chapel