Tributes

Mohamed elHefni "Hef" Badr passed away unexpectedly on May 31st, 2023 at the age of 71 in his home in Mooresville, NC. Hef was born March 21st, 1952 in Alexandria, Egypt to Fatima and Gamal Badr. At the age of eleven, he went to England for his education, where he attended The Friends School at Great Ayton from 1968-1970, and met his first wife Helen Bowker. Hef joined his parents in Long Island, NY in 1970, to attend the State University of New York at Stony Brook, graduating with degrees in French and Economics. After getting his MBA from Hofstra University, Hef worked for a few years in business before pursuing his lifelong passions for automotive mechanics and not working for other people. He opened The Shade Tree Garage in Locust Valley, Long Island in the early 1980s where he was a fixture in the community for twenty years until moving to Mooresville, North Carolina. After a brief attempt at "retirement", Hef began a second career at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, where he dedicated himself to teaching auto mechanics for over a decade. Hef had a boundless curiosity and endless need to tinker and fix things. His sense of humor and generosity were effortless. When he wasn't working one of his many toys in the garage, Hef loved solving crossword puzzles, playing with his grandkids, going on trips with his wife and friends, and making sure everyone around him had a good time. He was a car nut. An educator. A raconteur. And the loudest laugh in every room he was in. He is survived by his loving wife Celeste, his son Kareem, his daughter Deena and her husband Kyle, his grandchildren Nadia and Nathan, his step-daughter, Emily Green, his brother Hussein, his Factory Five MK4 Roadster, and too many friends to count. Hef is preceded in death by his first wife Helen Badr, his parents Gamal and Fatima Badr, and his parents-in-law Margaret and Kenneth Bowker. Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of his life on July 7th, 2023. The service will be held at 5pm EST, followed by a toast at 6pm to kick off an evening of celebration and remembrance befitting the man who truly was the life of the party. The service will be streamed online for anyone unable to attend. We invite all of Hef's friends and family, wherever you may be, to raise a glass and join us for the toast at 6pm EST. For those unable to attend the celebration of life please use the following link to view the service: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY4NTk4ODUyNzI1NDkzOCZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw== Please help us make this party special by sharing a favorite song, photo, or Hef-ism using the following form: https://shorturl.at/frzMW In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to The Rotary Beds for Children Project. http://www.bedsforchildrenmooresville.com/ or to Buhinga School in Uganda through Universal Chance https://www.justgiving.com/universalchance. Celebration of Life Details: When: July 7th, 2023 5pm Where: Cavin-Cook Heritage House 494 E. Plaza Drive Mooresville, NC 28115 Attire: Formal attire is not required. Be comfortable and ready to party. (Hef would hate it if we all showed up in "monkey suits" on his account) Full meal and drinks will be served.

Tributes

Mohamed "Hef" Badr

March 21, 1952 - May 31, 2023