A tribute to Embrace friend and partner Chef Ramzi

Ramzi Choueiri (left) at the Autism Awareness Day march in 2018. The march coincided with the naming of a street in honour of Ramzi’s father, “Rue Nadeem Habib Shwayri”.

We were deeply saddened by the news that our dear friend Ramzi Nadim Choueiri, known nationally and internationally as the celebrated ‘Chef Ramzi’, died on Sunday of heart failure. Ramzi was many things, but first and foremost he was a devoted and loving husband to Tanya and father to Nadim, Yasmina and Maria.

His devotion to his family was mirrored by his commitment to the extraordinary legacy of his father Nadim Choueiri, founder of the Al-Kafaàt Foundation. For more than 50 years Al-Kafaàt has had the gifts, as well as the special needs, of people living with disability at the heart of its work. Embrace the Middle East, and BibleLands before that, has been a partner of Al-Kafaàt almost all of that time.

In 2016 Ramzi gave up his lucrative career as a TV chef to lead the Foundation’s work. For much of the time since then his beloved Lebanon has experienced enormous and complex economic, social and political upheaval. In the face of the grave and disruptive impacts of this ongoing crisis, particularly on the financial sustainability of Al-Kafaàt’s varied and remarkable portfolio of services, Ramzi strained every sinew, and found innovative ways, to continue the work. He also inspired Al-Kafaàt’s staff to do the same, many at great personal cost.

We send our deepest condolences to Tanya, Nadim, Yasmina and Maria, to Ramzi’s siblings and to the entire Al-Kafaàt family. We join you in grieving the passing of a great man and celebrating a life lived generously and to the full.

Thank you Ramzi – we know you are now resting with the Lord whose call to service you answered so generously.