Elias Habiby
February 25, 1931 - February 16, 2013

Elias Jamil Habiby
February 25, 1931 - February 16, 2013
Elias Jamil Habiby, a distinguished retired Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineer,
beloved husband, father, grand and great grandfather, brother, and uncle, died
peacefully in his Carmel, Indiana home on February 16, 2013.
Elias was born in Haifa to Palestinian Christian parents on February 25, 1931.
He was the eldest son of the late Judge Jamil Ibrahim and Mrs. Mary Shalhoub
Habiby of Haifa and East Jerusalem.
Elias attended Anglican Church related schools: The Bishop Gobat School in
Jerusalem, St. Luke's Senior School in Haifa, and the English School in Cairo,
Egypt. He graduated with an Oxford and Cambridge High School Certificate and
continued his studies in Britain. At the English School, due to his high academic
standing, he was honored with the appointment of being a School Prefect, and
was Captain of the First Eleven Soccer Football Team. In Britain for his
university schooling, he majored in Aerodynamics Engineering attending
Loughborough University, Loughborough, England, and Chelsea College of
Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering, London, graduating with Honors as
an Aeronautical Engineer. He then did practical work in Aeronautics in Cardiff,
Wales, before departing the United Kingdom. After graduation he returned to
the Middle East, where he was appointed as Jordan's Deputy Director of Civil
Aviation. He immigrated to the United States in 1956, where he was employed by
Alloy Products, Marion, Indiana. He continued his career and moved to BH
Aircraft in Long Island, New York. He spent his last 21 years of employment
with Parker Hannifin, Irvine, California as a Senior Management and
Production Engineer. During his Aeronautical and Aerospace career, he worked
on programs that included the Space Shuttle as well as U.S. Military projects.
After his retirement, he and his wife moved from Mission Viejo, California to
Seminole, Florida.
Elias was active in Arab-American Republican affairs. He was a Third Degree
Mason. Among his favorite hobbies were working on his cars, renovating his
homes, motorcycling, and traveling.
Elias is survived by his wife of 30 years Marjorie Habiby, his first wife Delores
Habiby and mother of son John (Jay) Habiby, son Jeff Habiby, and daughter
Mary Habiby-Lucchese; their son James (Jim) Habiby preceded his death in
2007. He is also survived by his stepson John Masek. Elias is survived by his
three sisters, Gyzelle Habiby Fuchs, Aida Habiby Arcache, and Emira HabibyBrowne
and his three brothers Samir J. Habiby, Armond J. Habiby, and Emir J.
Habiby. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, one great grandchild, and
twelve nieces and nephews.
The Celebration of Elias' life will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 10 West
61st Street, Indianapolis, 46208. The viewing will be held in the Lilly Room of
the Church beginning at 12:30 PM on Thursday, February 28 followed by the
Service at 1:30 PM with The Rev'd Dr. John Denson, Parish Rector as the
Celebrant, assisted by The Rev'd Dr. Canon Samir Habiby. Interment will be
held on Friday, March 1 at 3:00 PM at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, 9001
Haverstick Rd., Indianapolis 46240.
In charge of the Funeral arrangement is the Leppert Mortuary and Crematory,
740 East 86th Street, Indianapolis 46240, (317) 296-8346.
In Lieu of Flowers, the family has requested that monetary gifts be given to the
Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and designated for the St. John the Evangelist
Episcopal School, Haifa. The memorial gifts can be given through the American
Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, directly on their website at
WWW.afedj.org. The Diocese of Jerusalem website is at: WWW.j-diocese.org.

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