I never knew a Palestinian until I met Elias Mitri. He really opened my eyes to a different perspective.
He was born in Jaffa, Palestine, and came to the U.S. as a young college student where he earned his bachelor’s degree in electronics, got a master’s degree and worked in high tech and NASA-related programs. With time and experience, he moved up into executive positions in these industries. I met him in his later years here in Gilroy after he had retired.
Elias had a way of telling stories and a way of connecting with people. He was a tall man with a big bear hug. He spoke with a slight accent and surrounded himself with the culture and artifacts of his native country, yet he moved effortlessly in this culture, making friends wherever he went, navigating two worlds and establishing camaraderie with charm and care for others.
One thing he often referred to in our conversations was the loss of all that his family had in Palestine. During the 1948 Palestine War, 711,000 out of about 900,000 Palestine Arabs fled or were expelled from the territories that became the State of Israel. They fled in fear to the West Bank, Gaza, and to the contiguous countries of Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
Elias’ family was one of those families who had to flee for their lives as everything they knew was being destroyed. They had to leave everything behind or lose their lives. One of the aspects that made Elias so sad surprised me. It’s the loss of all his family photos – something he still talks about more than 60 years later.
“We have nothing,” he would tell me, casting his eyes down at the ground. “Not one picture, not one photo of any ancestor, of any family member, not one. All the family history is gone.”
Elias’ wife, Marilyn, and his children and grandchildren meant everything to him, and he gave me a greater appreciation for my own family treasures of photos and letters. He described how his family had to begin again from ground zero and build a new family story, create a new family history and take all new photos. He gave me such a different perspective into an Arab background with his stories of Palestine.
He challenged my preconceived Palestinian stereotypes by being Christian. He belonged to the Antiochian Orthodox Church, also known as Greek Orthodox. This was new to me. He had an educated and ecumenical outlook and always looked for the good in all faiths. When he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and endured a long battle and treatment as it spread, his faith was clearly a source of strength.
Another window into his character was his involvement in the Gilroy Lions Club. Jan. 21 was the annual student speech contest for local high school students. The winner received a monetary prize and qualified to compete at the next level, with an opportunity to win the state grand prize scholarship. I know Elias would have been there if he could have been.
Elias loved being part of an organization that pays for eye surgeries, eye tests, glasses and hearing aids for those who can’t otherwise afford them. He supported Gilroy Great Strides, a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“We have done such projects as building a walkway for a Gilroy resident,” Elias told me with great satisfaction. “It enabled him to get out to the street in his wheelchair.”
He also loved to cook for the Annual Omelette and Pancake Supper fundraiser for the Lions. Before the dinner opened its doors to the public, Elias would first help serve students with disabilities.
The last time I saw him several weeks ago, he came bouncing into a friend’s house to join in a group Bible study session. When we were leaving, the thought of hugging him goodbye crossed my mind, but we all just went our separate ways. I didn’t know it would be my last opportunity.
Just before Elias lost his cancer battle, he had a great outing with friend Howard Hall, who said, “I feel really lucky to have been able to spend all the time I did with him Friday at the coffee temple, Starbucks. We did humor, work history and life philosophy. So many stories of childhood … great!”
A memorial service celebrating the life of Elias Mitri will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Gilroy United Methodist Church, located at 7600 Church St. Call (408) 607-2442 for more information.
