Dr. Samy Karaz
October 13, 1952 ~ June 23, 2023
Born in:
Cairo, Egypt
Resided in:
Cotton Lake, Minnesota
Funeral Mass:
Prayer Service:
Samy Sobhy Karaz was born on October 13th, 1952 in the Helwan suburb of Cairo, Egypt, the eldest of three children to Sobhy and Samira Karaz. He graduated from Cairo University School of Medicine in 1976. He was 27 years old when he immigrated to the United States. He met his wife, Louise (Grann), at Merit Care Hospital where they both worked, he as a resident psychiatrist and she as a nurse. Though their cultural backgrounds were vastly different, they formed a deep, loving bond. They wed at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo on May 17th, 1986. They had two children, Katya and David. The family resided in Fargo, and spent summers at the cherished family lake cabin on Cotton Lake in MN. Later in life they purchased a home in Marco Island, FL to escape the winter cold. When he wasn’t working, he was finding his way to these places to relax by the water with his children and creatively tinker with home improvement projects.
Samy was a dedicated husband and father. He was fully committed to his family’s happiness. He especially loved to travel with his wife, who shared his sense of adventure and curiosity about the world. He delighted in his children at every stage of their lives. He was a passionate supporter of their education and, most importantly to him, their happiness. He often said that his greatest joy came from seeing his wife and children thrive. He spoke excitedly about them to anyone who would listen.
Samy had a distinguished career as a physician. He practiced psychiatry for 13 years. In 2000 he transitioned his entire career to sleep medicine and established the Sleep Medicine Center at Merit Care (now Sanford). He was well regarded for his clinical expertise, ethical practice, and warm compassion for his patients. In 2021 he was honored as the Sanford Physician of the Year. He firmly believed in an egalitarian workplace and cherished his staff, many of whom he worked with for decades. He was very proud of the Samy Karaz, MD Sanford Sleep Medicine Education Center and Endowment for Education established in 2022, to his happy surprise, in his honor.
Samy loved to fish. He was content spending hours casting anywhere from the deep sea to the lakes of MN. He adored watching professional tennis, always taking interest in the personal backgrounds of the players. He also loved to host friends for good food and long talk of life and politics. He maintained contact with a group of his childhood friends from Egypt, and made many more over his years in America. Most of all he cherished time with his wife, children and four grandchildren, who knew him as their Gedo (Arabic for “grandpa”).
He will be remembered most as he was in his beloved homes on Cotton Lake and Marco Island, where his door was always open to the ones he loved. He was generous, a sincere listener who loved to hear stories and tell them, and was always humble.
He is survived by: his wife, Louise; children Katya (Andrew Enzler) and David (Amanda Karaz); grandchildren Alice (4), Jack (3), Maxwell Samy (11 mo), and Ingrid (6 mo); and sister, Sohair Soliman.
Video Tribute:
Services
Prayer Service - Thursday: June 29, 2023 7:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
7012376441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
Visitation - Thursday: June 29, 2023 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
7012376441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
Funeral Mass - Friday: June 30, 2023 1:00 pm
Nativity Catholic Church, Fargo
1825 S 11th St.
Fargo , North Dakota 58103
(701) 232-2414
https://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/
Burial: June 30, 2023 3:15 pm
Holy Cross Cemetery South, Fargo
7000 38th St SW
Fargo, North Dakota 58104
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Samy was a wonderful person who was passionate about being the best husband, father, friend and physician. I will never forget his smile and chuckle when being picked on. He’s was a great friend and colleague. He really cared about every patient he saw and was very distressed when one wasn’t doing well. Rest in peace Samy, you will be missed by many!
Louise, David and Katya
I am so sorry for your loss. I worked with Dr. Karaz in Fargo at the sleep center. He was a great teacher, mentor and friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you. He will be greatly missed. He was truly a wonderful man.
Karaz family,
We are all sorry for your loss. Samy was a wonderful person, father, husband, and I’m sure grandfather. He always was concerned about others and would always greet others with a smile on his face. He brightened our days whenever our paths crossed. He passed down many of his great qualities to his children!! May he rest in eternal peace! Jim and Katie Traynor and family
My sincere sympathy to you all. I can’t imagine the loss you are feeling. I had the pleasure of working with Sammy at the sleep center. He was truly one of the nicest people I have ever met. An angle on earth. He always took the time to visit and cared how you and your family were doing. He will be missed by many.
I was saddened to see that Samy has passed away – he was a fantastic person. He was always positive, polite and FUN to talk with. Sincere condolences to Louise and family.
“I just love it”❤️😎❤️
Good news, Jesus hangs out with fisherman all the time! Catch a couple for me! We’ll see you Thursday❤️🙏❤️
Louise, David, and Katya. Sincere sympathy and prayers from the Kruger family. We have many great memories from Cotton Lake as our children were growing up. Samy was a great guy and will be missed by many.
We will always be grateful to have had Samy as part of our family. We embraced him so completely; his genuine kindness, graciousness and warm smile will always remain with us.
Please know that many lives are better because of Samy being here – his loss is greatly felt by many . But he was a positive force – a thinker, a person with strong opinions but a good listener as well . He was a man that expressed a lot of joy and had an appreciation for life . He had so much more to give. He so loved his wife and family. Our family will cherish his memory.
Throughout the six years that I lived in ND, Samy and Louise were one of our greatest support systems. Samy was always there for us. He offered help without being asked.
One day, I was alone at home, pregnant with my daughter, and my son was still a toddler. I called them at midnight, screaming in pain. Samy and Louise showed up within a few minutes and took me to the hospital. This memory has stuck with me since then, reminding me that there are still good people in life.
I will always cherish the memory of your kindness, Samy. You may be gone from our sight, but you are never gone from our hearts.
Fly high until we meet again.
I am silent; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it. (Psalm 39:9)
Louise and family. So sorry to hear of your loss. Our hearts go out to you and your family. Thoughts, prayers and hugs to all.
This written tribute describes Samy to a tea-so beautifully written. His warmth, kindness, intelligence, caring, and mark in our community are unmatched. Our hearts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult loss. May he rest in peace and may you be comforted by this very sweet tie to heaven.
My brother Samy is survived by his sister, Soher Sidhom (Samir Sidhom) and his nieces Noha Sidhom (Anthony Lenzi), Maha Sidhom (Caley Johnson) and Sophia Karaz. He preceded in death by our father Sobhy Karaz, mother Samira Soliman and, brother Dr. Sameh Karaz.
Samy never forgot his Egyptian Heritage and his Coptic Orthodox Christian faith. He loved Egyptian food and used to say “this is life” when he served with my authentic Egyptian dishes. Although we went our separate ways in the last few years of his life, we will remember him as the person we used to know, a kind and loving person. Rest in peace my brother.
Samy’s love and kindness, his intelligence, and his devotion to his family, staff and patients were second to none. He radiated warmth and goodness. He will be dearly missed here and on Cotton. May love and consolation surround you Louise, Katya and David (and your families) and may you find comfort in this sweet tie to heaven. May Samy rest in heavenly peace.
I am very sorry to learn that Samy Karaz has passed away. A former colleague, he he was extraordinary: kind, empathic, dedicated to patient care and healing, collaborative among all staff, and always a pleasant, enthusiastic colleague. My condolences to Louise and family.
My heart is sad with you in the loss of your dear Samy. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet him, but it is evident from his beautiful obituary what a wonderful man, devoted husband and father, and compassionate doctor he was. He brought love and goodness to you and to so many and made this world a better place. I pray that your beautiful and precious memories will give you comfort and peace in the days ahead as you carry him always in your hearts. I will watch Samy’s services here in Ohio as my heart is with you in Fargo. May Samy rest in peace.
Samy’s credentials are impressive and speak for themselves. Equally important is the kind of person he was. I did not know him well, personally – my loss. A big one. Reading through the lovely obituary and glowing guestbook comments, and knowing you, Louise, it is clear he was one in a million. Aside from his brilliance, he made the world a better place with his kindness, thoughtfulness, love of nature and family, and selflessness. He seemed able to be the scholar when needed, then be the Fun-Dad/ grandpa/ friend/ brother. We can only hope to model ourselves after him. Wishing you all strength as you move forward with Samy and the memories in your hearts.
I have known Samy for 50 years, since we were in the medical school together back in Egypt. After we graduated we went separate ways, he went to USA, I went to the UK. So it was just under 40 years when we left Egypt to start our career, but we kept in contact all the time through letters and phone calls; before the age of the internet.
20 years after we last met in Egypt, we met again in 2004 in New Orleans. I was attending a scientific meeting, and he flew all the way from Fargo to meet me. We spent a couple of days there reminiscing on old memories, with a promise to meet again as much as we can. So we did meet few times since then, in person in UK and in Egypt, and so many times through the internet.
I cannot remember Samy without his lovely smile, which never left his face. God blessed him with his lovely wife Louise and his 2 loving children, Katya and David, and his 4 grandchildren.
We all miss you our dear friend. RIP.
I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Karaz a number of times when I worked in the PR/Marketing department at MeritCare. He was always such a pleasure to work with — so kind and thoughtful, so passionate about his work and his patients. My sincere condolences to the Karaz family.
Louise and family, Sending my sympathy in the loss of your husband and father. I had the pleasure of working with Samy at SEHSC and he was a wonderful, caring, compassionate man and psychiatrist. I am so very sorry to hear of his passing. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Sherrie Peterson
I know the pain here is deep. We are thinking of you all.
Our Sincere sympathy with the loss of Samy, husband, father, physician .
He has to be one of the most kind , gracious and polite persons we have ever met!
He will be greatly missed!! He helped so many people in so many ways!
May God bless him always and may he rest in peace. Love and prayers. Kathy and Charlie Hanish
I was very saddened by the very bad news of passing away my friend and brother Samy
I have known Samy and his family for more than 60 years where we lived in Helena suburb of Cairo in Egypt
We studied medicine together in Cairo Medical School and the last time I met Samy in Cairo was in my wedding 18 June 1981
He then migrated to the USA and I went to UK
We kept in contact virtually till we met in person few years ago in London with his lovely wife Louise. We agreed to see each other more but the pandemic prevented travel
The last couple of years was very hard and painful time for him and family with his illness
Sami requested a videoconference with me and close old friends in Egypt and England which took place a week before the sad news
He wanted to say goodbye to us !!
It was very difficult few minutes for me and everyone but as ever he was in peace with his soul and big famous smile on his face!!
He wanted to repeat the videoconference the following week but I knew at the bottom of my heart it was the last time to see and talk to him
My loss is huge and very similar to the loss of sister few weeks before him
Samy was a great man, good friend who loved life to the extreme
He had a kind personality and infectious spirit and smile
He will be hugely missed by everyone knew him
Our thoughts and prayers are with Louise, David, Katya and the family
May Good bless his souls
Same RIS till we meet again one day somewhere
What a loss for everyone Samy came in contact with throughout his lifetime. He was so special to us all. I worked with Samy in the Sleep Center since 1997. He was family to me. He treated all of us equally and with respect. He taught us how to be better, in every aspect of life. Until we meet again Samy, You will be very missed!
Samy and Louise have been close friends with me for many years. His kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. I will miss your smile. You were a an amazing doctor, husband, father, grandfather, and friend.
Rest in peace my friend.
From the family of his aunt Samia Soliman & Amir Bishay
Samy was a wonderful provider and person. I remember working with him many years ago on the inpatient psych unit. He was a wonderful psyhchiatrist and a wonderful human being. He was compassionate and caring person. He had a wonderful sense of humor and smile. He will be greatly missed.
Samy and I, two of a group of lifetime friends, friends4ever, came to life almost within the same year, grew up and lived in a neighbourhood, walked to the school and graduated together, then kept persistent and strong connections and ties later in life despite challenging distances and circumstances, sadly some are no more there.
We may recall tens of years of beautiful shared events and memories with Samy and the Karaz Family. In his tender age Samy became a bibliophile and made reading books a habit and hoppy, long before digital publishing. He led the way to many of us at times when it was hard to know what books are worth reading. He was also passionate about tennis sport, both as a good player and an enthusiast fan – a classy sport for a classy gentleman. He could not be as good in soccer and we repeatedly recalled when our team was badly defeated by a team from the Maadi suburb. Then comes his great love to mangoes with several visits together to the Mango Market Auctions on Fridays to rival with the retailers – we are Mango Friends; loyal and inseparable.
There were lots of funny moments we experienced together as he discovered that I was stealing his Halawa (a sweet made of sesame) fasting food during a summer trip to the northern coast, as my sister’s wedding candles melt when left in the back of his car on a hot day, etc.
Samy was a real family man as I quote his words“ I enjoy home life and need to be close to those I love”, and in last period of his life and despite his illness he was happy that he could enjoy the company of his lovely family.
We’re already missing you dear brother.
My condolences to the family of Dr. Samy Karaz. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. I will always remember working with Dr. Karaz when the Sleep Lab & Pulmonary Function Lab were in the same area @ MeritCare. He was always there with a smile & asked you how you felt if you were down. One memory I remember & wanted to share is @ the end of the first day of seeing patients in the Sleep Lab he stopped by the receptionist desk & pretended to open his shirt & wondered if had an “S” under his shirt he wondered out loud if he was Superman or not because of the amount of patients he saw that day. Rest in peace Dr. Karaz, I’ll always remember you & how you brightened everyone’s day.
Ecclesiasticus 41:13
My deepest condolence to you and your family. Samy was a great man with great achievements. He was my cousin and like a big brother. He had a pure loving heart and a warming smile. He brought joy to any gathering.Wish I could’ve spent more time with him.
My favorite memory was when he “stole” one of the red roses meant for the RN’s on the floor he was working on. When i teased him (then and any time I could bring it up over the years) he intended to give it to a woman he wanted to impress. It must have worked cuz she ended up marrying him!💖💖
I will miss him so much. May God’s peace and comfort be with you and the rest of the family specially in this times.
Some preach the good news with words, others with their actions. Samy was an incredible example of the latter. Skilled physician, compassionate and kind to all his patients. Wonderful to work with and a great partner for many years. I will miss you so much my friend, I am really sorry we never got that last fishing trip in.
Love and may you rest in peace,
Ron
Samy is my cousin, my brother and my closest friend. I was blessed to hear from you few days before your departure to paradise. You will always be in my mind and my thoughts. My deepest condolence to the family Louise, Katya and David
I am so sorry and sad for the loss of Samy, I know we truly lost a special kind heart in our family, though my comfort is that no more pain for you Samy
May you be in peace and May God send peace to all the hearts you left
Love you always
Your cousin
Dina, Samir and kids
Experiences with Samy and Louise while attending conferences- Spain, Portugal, Italy, Minneapolis, Denver , Seattle.. They were amazing travel companions and so easy to get along with. Always easy going, sharing the love of seafood , and culture, architecture etc. It has not sunk in yet completely and I’m not sure how long it will take to do so. Thank you for the memories and the birthday dance you and I shared in Naples !! We love you Samy and you will forever be in our hearts!!
My Dear dear Louise,
My heart is aching for you right now as I just heard about Sammy’s passing on the 23rd of June. I know I only met him a few times but each time it was so obvious how much he loved you and your family. As Annie said in one of her tributes “he was the real deal”. What a beautiful video you and your kids put together on the boulger website. He truly had a wonderful life and you are present all the way through it. You two were so blessed to find each other. I pray your faith is giving you some peace right now, knowing that he has gone on ahead of you, to heaven, and he will be there to welcome you when your time comes. Until then let the love of your children and grandchildren, your sisters and brothers, and yes, your cousins! carry you through this difficult time. Annie and I would love to spend some time with you when you come to Minneapolis the next time. We love you dearly 💕
Ramona