Cousy, an Icon, has left us, Thank you for everything!

Åsa & Victoria

During my youth in Egypt (1946-1970), I was fortunate to be part of a group of very close friends (or ‘shella”), with whom we did so many enjoyable, and sometimes crazy things, and Couzy was a member of this group including Serge my brother, Freddy Shunbo, Mounir Tadros, Lucien Papouchado, and others. I share here one or two such event that were funny, as Couzy loved to laugh and make jokes.

We all had bicycles when we were young - except Couzy, so I was his designated driver. In other words, wherever we went, I had to take Couzy in front of me on the horizontal bar of my bicycle. One day, we decided to go to the northern end of Zamalek where there were many docked “fellookas” (or big sail boats). Upon arrival, we saw one deserted fellooka so we disembarked from our bicycles and moved to inspect it. As we were on the deck, a mean looking huge man in “gallabiyah” (or long white robe) appeared and said: “What are you kids doing here, it is forbidden to be here, get off this boat !!!”. So, one of us mentioned: “Who are you?”, to which he responded: “I am the guardian”. So, we said: “Guardian? Do you have a license (Rokhsah in Arabic)? - Show us you license …“. So, he lifted his gallabiyah and show us his genitals, saying: “License? Here is my license”, and he started chasing us angrily. In a frenzy, we all ran towards our bicycles, and Couzy and I were having difficulty getting my bicycle rolling. Couzy was saying: “Yallah (let ‘s go) Vodik …!!!” However, the guardian caught up with us and he gave such a big smack on Couzy’s head as we were finally moving. Couzy never forgave me, and we laughed about it so many times later during our lives. He must be still laughing in heaven now …

In another occasion (probably 1965), Couzy, Freddy, Mounir and me went to Aswan by train 3rd class and a tent, to witness the Dam construction site. One morning, as we were walking around the dam in the desert, we got lost. No road in sight we could use to return downtown, just sand everywhere to the horizon... A few hours later, we were starting to panic in the afternoon, and I think it may have been Couzy who said “Let us kneel down and pray”. So, we did, and lo and behold, a few minutes later, we walked about 20 meters in one direction and saw the Aswan town down from the high desert cliff we had reached… Panic turned into loud laughter.

As we were getting older, we went to the same university, AUC where we kept close, and with good friends as well. As time went by, we all went our different ways on this planet, but we always kept in touch. Couzy came a few times to Canada and we had good fun together, reuniting with good old friends, Jean Ghaliounghi, Lucien (Lou) Papouchado, Mounir Tadros, Stavros Cademenos, Freddy Shunbo, and many others. I then came to know Couzy as a profound spiritual being with whom I felt deeply connected to … perhaps at our soul level ..

“Couzy, wait for us, we are all coming soon to join you in laughter, intense joy and many other heavenly adventures ... we all love you, my friend !!“