Dr. Morad Aly Abou-Sabe’ passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on June 17, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Morad was a beloved husband to Mouchira; father to Emad, Myra, Ehab, and Rami; in-law to Ola, Ihab, Jodi, and Khadiga; grandfather to Rami, Kenzi, Jad, Zad, Ayah, Mia, Zein, Amy, and Kasey; and great-grandfather to Lena.
He was born on April 3, 1937, in Gharbia, Egypt, in the town of Kafr Kala al Bab. After studying agricultural chemistry at Alexandria University, Morad came to the United States in 1959 to pursue a master’s degree in microbiology at the University of California, Berkeley.
In California, he discovered a love for pancakes, movie theaters, and convertibles — and began his new family with Mouchira. In relentless pursuit of education and scientific research, Morad moved his young family to Pittsburgh, where he earned his doctorate in biological sciences.
After acquiring his Ph.D., Dr. Abou-Sabe’ became a professor of microbiology at Rutgers University, settling his family into their new home in Central New Jersey. During his career, Dr. Abou-Sabe’ performed scientific research in both microbiology and molecular genetics. He also founded a research and development laboratory, MAS Labs, which was expanded into a pharmaceutical manufacturing company.
In New Jersey, Dr. Abou-Sabe’ established himself as a pillar in the growing Arab-American community. He served as president of the Arab American League of Voters of New Jersey, was a member of the NJ Arab American Heritage Commission, and was a founding member of the Egyptian American Professional Society. He also served as senior advisor to the Commerce Secretary of the State of New Jersey, and was nominated for the position of Executive Director of Foreign Affairs for the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in 2001.
Dr. Abou-Sabe’ was a prolific writer and political thinker. In addition to research papers and two books in his field of scientific expertise, Dr. Abou-Sabe’ testified about human rights before the United States Congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs, published a number of op-eds in local newspapers, and adapted the memoir of Queen Farida of Egypt for an English- speaking audience.
Following his tenured professorship at Rutgers, Dr. Abou-Sabe’ became a professor emeritus and consultant at the university, served as President and Assistant Chancellor for Research and Business Development at Misr University for Science & Technology in Cairo, and was an adjunct professor at Kean University.
Morad cared deeply about his culture, religion, community, education, scientific research, and most importantly — his family. He was an inquisitive thinker but an even better listener, a lover of music and the arts, and a solid and steady presence in so many lives. Morad will be dearly missed by all those who knew him, learned from him, and were raised by him.
