The previous issue of Watani carried on its first page news of the departure of the prominent Coptic figure Mahfouz Doss (1925 – 2023). I wrote the news in haste, moments before the paper went to press, under the title “A precious leaf falls off the Watani tree”. I bid farewell to the dear Watani friend and colleague who has to his credit a long contribution to the paper, covering and documenting international cinema and film festivals across the world; major among them were the Academy Awards—the Oscars, and their twin Golden Globe Awards.
Yet what I wrote last week falls short of giving Mr Doss due credit; international cinema was but a single aspect of his rich, busy life and great achievements. Mahfouz Doss was the descendant of an old, honourable Egyptian family. He continued along this path of honour, working, struggling, persevering, and shining; every step he trod left a remarkable imprint.
Before I delve deep into this article, let me gratefully stress that the bond between Mr Doss and me goes back to 1995 in the wake of the departure of my father and Watani founder, Antoun Sidhom (1915 – 1995). It is a bond of love, respect and friendship, that has spanned little less than three decades. In 1995, Mr Doss called me to offer his condolences, and to confirm his keenness on continuing to work with Watani as a Hollywood correspondent, an offer which I gratefully accepted. What started as a professional relation soon turned, very smoothly and spontaneously, into a warm lifelong friendship that included my wife Amira and his wife Juliette, despite the almost 25 years difference in age between us two men.
A significant point in our friendship was when, during a visit to Mahfouz and Juliette in their Los Angeles home, he handed me a few printed papers and said: “I’d like to leave with you a record of my life; you might need it one day if you wish to write my obituary.” His words moved me deeply, yet here I am years later going back to these papers, feeling greatly indebted to Mahfouz for rendering the task of writing his obituary simple and accurate.
I will offer here a glimpse of Mr Mahfouz’s life, inspired by what he himself wrote.
Mr Doss was born in Port Said, Egypt on 18 August 1925. His father was the gynecologist and obstetrician Tadros Doss, his mother Marie, daughter of Guirguis Pasha Antoun, and his godmother Louise wife of Wasfy Pasha Ghali.
He attended French schools in Cairo, then studied Law at Cairo University. He later studied Medicine at the Montpellier France University, then read Journalism. In 1946 he joined the Chemical Institute in Toulouse, France, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, later earning a Master’s Degree in Applied Chemistry and Organic Chemistry from the same university. Mr Doss was the founder of the first Association of Egyptian students in Toulouse, the objective of which was to promote goodwill and understanding, to establish friendly relations among the students, and to familiarise them with Egypt, its culture and heritage.
In 1959, Mr Doss started writing for the State-owned monthly financial and economic publication al-Ahram al-Eqtisadi, about promotion of industry in Egypt using local raw materials. He then began writing and giving lectures around the world on the chemical components that contribute to developing building and construction. He established one of the first chemical plants in Mostorod, Cairo, to produce naphthalene, insecticides and firebricks. He also established a laboratory to produce cosmetics.
In 1959 he emigrated to the US where he worked in the field of research and development of chemicals used in construction. His contribution and achievements in this field were much appreciated and, in 1977, he founded his own technical research centre for construction chemicals. His centre offered technical advice to construction companies in the US, Europe and the Middle East. He was thus well placed to give lectures in construction engineering departments in several universities in countries around the world including Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Emirates, UK, France, Germany and Iceland.
On 16 January 1971, he married the Palestinian Juliette Fasheh who became his lifelong partner until he departed our world; they had no children.
In 1959, Mr Doss started a career with international cinema as a film critic, becoming a columnist in Egyptian, Lebanese and French papers, among them Watani. The same year, he joined the Hollywood Foreign Press Association where he remained an active member for many years; he was elected to its board of directors for several terms before being elected Vice President, then Chairman of the Board, then President. Mr Doss also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hollywood Press Association within several committees. In 2000, he served as the Association’s spokesperson, and delivered its message at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony to 247 million viewers around the world.
Mr Doss covered and attended film festivals around the globe, some of which he attended as guest of honour. Among the festivals he attended and covered in Europe were Cannes, Deauville, La Rochelle and Paris in France; Barcelona in Spain; Munich and Heidelberg in Germany; Helsinki in Finland; Locarno in Switzerland; Karlovy Vary in Czech Republic; Venice and Sicily in Italy. In Asia he attended and covered the film festivals in Moscow and Sochi in Russia; Istanbul in Turkey; Hong Kong; Shanghai in China; Bangkok in Thailand; Singapore. In Africa, he attended and covered the film festivals of Cairo in Egypt and Marrakech in Morocco. In Latin America he attended and covered the film festivals of Buenos Ayres, Argentina; Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Vina Del Mar, Chilie. He also attended and covered the Sydney festival in Australia, Honolulu’s in Hawaii, and Toronto’s in Canada.
As to his contribution to public work, Mr Doss was elected in 1952 to the board of the Charitable Coptic Association in Heliopolis, Cairo, and remained a member of the board until he left Egypt in 1959.
In 1959, he was elected to the board of the Great Coptic Benevolent Association which his grandfather had co-founded and led for 40 years.
He served as board member of the Coptic Orthodox St Mark church in Los Angeles, and St Peter and St Paul church in Santa Monica, California.
He served as Vice President and board member of the National Association of Arab American Los Angeles chapter, and as President of the Egyptian Pharaohs Club whose raison d’être is to strengthen ties between Egyptian Americans and Americans at large.
This is Mahfouz Doss, and this is a glimpse into his life, achievements and contributions over close to a century. I was honoured to be part of it through a bond of love, friendship and professional relation that spanned 28 years. I hope I have adequately conducted the task I was entrusted with, now that the time has come to pay this great man a fitting tribute.
Watani International
29 March 2023
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