Canadian EgyptAir victim remembered as selfless, forgiving

The daughter of Medhat Tanious, one of two Canadian passengers aboard the EgyptAir flight that crashed in the Mediterranean Sea last week, remembers her father as a selfless man and an avid world traveller who put the needs of others before his own.

"He loved unconditionally," Merna Tanious told CBC News. "He had a heart of a child, with an unbelievable ability to forgive people."

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Medhat Tanious was among 66 people who died when EgyptAir Flight 804 crashed during its journey from Paris to Cairo on the morning of Thursday, May 19. Another Canadian, Marwa Hamdy, was also aboard the Airbus A320, whose flight data recorder has not yet been found.

Even though the cause of the crash is still unknown, Tanious said her family has already decided to forgive anyone who might be found responsible.

"Without even knowing, we said we will forgive, we will not do anyone wrong, because that's not how my dad would have done it," said Tanious.

Businessman, father, world traveller

Medhat Tanious was a businessman who was born in Cairo, said his daughter. Tanious, his wife Gehan Erian, and their three daughters Marina, Merna, and Mariem came to Canada in 2004, settling in Scarborough, Ont., and becoming Canadian citizens in 2008.

Tanious, who turned 54 in April, had gone to France with the family of his older brother in order to surprise his younger sister, who was visiting Europe from Australia. After spending time with his family in France and Holland, Tanious boarded EgyptAir Flight 804 in Paris to go visit friends and family in Egypt.

Merna Tanious said her father visited Egypt at least once a year, and had also travelled to countries like Cuba, Italy, China, Libya, and Austria.

"If he got any chance to travel, he would take it," she said, adding her father had the ability to make friends anywhere he went.

"He loved getting to know strangers, he could become friends with everyone," his daughter said.

Even during his last trip to Europe with his brother's family, Merna Tanious said her father made a new friend. At a restaurant in Amsterdam, Tanious said her father met a young Egyptian server who was planning a trip to Canada in the coming months. 

"Everybody got up, paid, and walked away, and then they were looking at my dad and they found him talking to the server," said Tanious.

"He gave the server his phone number and told him, 'If you need anything when you're in Canada, call me,'" and offered to pick the young man up from the airport when he arrived.

Bringing people together

Tanious also loved "bringing people together," said his daughter.

"He would rather have nowhere to sit than to have the house empty," she recalled. "He loved making people laugh, he loved seeing people with a smile on their faces."

Medhat Tanious's ability to bring people together in life continued even after his death. Merna Tanious said between 1,500 and 2,000 people attended her father's funeral at St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Markham.

"We've felt incredible love and comfort from everyone, and especially from the incredible amount of people that have been showing up, whether it was at the funeral yesterday or people that visited the house to give their condolences," said Tanious.

She plans to honour her father's memory by following his compassionate example.

"He used to always sit me down and try to talk to me, and try to teach me that you only live life by loving others and forgiving them," she said.