Obituary
It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of our family’s beloved patriarch, Dr. Waleed Jazrawi. Waleed was an energetic, adventurous, spirited, generous, and genuinely sentimental person, who loved life to its core. Waleed treasured his family and friends and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for the people he cared about. Waleed’s generosity and hospitality touched the lives of so many and he will be dearly missed by his family, his friends, both in Calgary and around the world.
Waleed was born on September 27, 1938, to his parents Alice (neé Mazzucchi) and Wadie Al-Jazrawy in Baghdad, Iraq. Waleed loved his homeland of Iraq and reminisced often about his childhood in Mosul, which he shared with his younger brother Khalid and his younger sister Helen. Waleed was also deeply influenced and mentored by his uncle Munir Al-Jazrawy, who he esteemed throughout his life. Waleed left Iraq when he was 17 years old to attend Wrexham’s Glyndwr University in Wales for a year to complete his A-levels. Waleed was then accepted to his beloved alma mater, the University of Birmingham in England, where he completed his Bachelor of Science with Honors, and then went straight on to a Ph.D. program in chemical engineering. Waleed and his wife, Maggie, would return annually for the University Alumni Reunion and Waleed maintained his relationships with his colleagues for 50 years.
Waleed’s time spent in Birmingham were some of his most cherished years, where he made many lifelong friends, and of course, where he met the love of his life, Margaret Hadley. Waleed met Maggie when she was 15 (almost 16) years old, and they dated for 6 years. Waleed would pick Maggie up on his motorbike (despite her beehive hair-do and 1960s style skirt), and they would enjoy music, dancing, and trips to local areas. Waleed and Maggie eventually traveled the world together, faced life’s challenges together, and Maggie was his greatest supporter until the very end, advocating for what she knew he loved and believed in.
After graduating with his Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering, Waleed and Maggie were married on April 19, 1965, and officially started their life together. After considering a number of opportunities, Waleed and Maggie decided to immigrate to Canada after Waleed accepted a position with Imperial Oil, kick-starting a 53-year career in the petroleum industry. Waleed and Maggie eventually settled in Calgary, Alberta, with Waleed working for Esso for over 25 years. Waleed eventually worked for a number of different oil companies, including CanOxy, where he served as President for their Yemeni operation. Eventually, Waleed started his own consulting company, and served as a board member for companies such as Japex and helped to oversee their Canadian subsidiary, Jacos. Waleed loved what he did for a living. He loved all the opportunities his career afforded him, including travel to nearly every continent and work on new and exciting projects.
Waleed was the beloved father of three daughters: Nadia Maria (born in 1967), Muna Christine (born in 1969), and Sarah Elizabeth (born in 1975). Waleed always set the highest expectations for his daughters and always told them that nothing could hold them back from what they wanted to achieve. He paid into scholarship programs from the time they were born so they would eventually attend university, which they did, graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Waleed taught his daughters how to ski and waterski, how to drive and parallel park, how to mow the lawn, how to play pool and ping-pong. Most importantly, Waleed was always there for his daughters to give important and meaningful advice, and he supported them in every way he could. Waleed was truly a model of what a father should be.
Waleed worked until his late 70’s, as long as he could, until he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia, which affected his ability to speak. In his retirement, Waleed enjoyed his life no matter where he was, whether it was in his Calgary home, his home in Mesa, Arizona, or in his cherished home in Timber Ridge, Invermere. Waleed enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, Adam, and Layla Ainsley, taking them skiing, on motorbike rides, or sharing his favorite musicals with them. He loved to be surrounded by friends and family, he loved listening to music (everything from Ella Fitzgerald, to the Gypsy Kings, to Pavarotti) and watching his favorite movies (Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, and of course, Shane). Waleed was eventually diagnosed with Corticobasal Syndrome, and it gradually took away all his mobility, however, he would laugh and interact as much as he could, and he was strong and determined to the very end.
Waleed was predeceased by his mother Alice; his father Wadie; his mother-in-law Irene; his father-in-law Ronald; his Amo Munir; and his sister Helen. He is survived by his loving wife Maggie; his brother Khalid; his daughter Nadia (married to Anthony Verna); his daughter Muna (married to George Apostolakos); his daughter Sarah (married to Adrian Martinez); his grandson Adam Ainsley; and his granddaughter Layla Ainsley.
Services will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Friday, February 18, 2022, at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Foothills Country Hospice Society, whose kindness and compassion were so important to our family in Waleed’s last days.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Dr Waleed Jazrawi September 27 1939 February 13 2022 (age 82)..
Death notice for the town of: Calgary, Province: Alberta