Eli George Hykal

1931 - 2025

Eli George Hykal

August 21, 1931 - November 11, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina - Eli Girgi Hykal, passed away on November 11, 2025, after a brief illness, surrounded by his family in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Eli was born on August 27, 1931, in Bmakine, Lebanon. At age 7, he rode the family donkey to town each week to sell produce. By age 10, he was selling milk and bootleg arak to French soldiers stationed nearby during World War II. At 17, he left Beirut with only $20 in his pocket to work for his uncle in Liberia. He thrived and saved enough money after six years to buy his parents their first house. These were the early stages of a life dedicated to leveraging his success in business to support his loved ones, always taking care of his family.

Eli's passion for business led him to establish several successful ventures in Africa, Lebanon, the United Kingdom and the United States. In the 1950s, Eli founded Metco, an import/export business, which emerged as one of Liberia's leading companies. His other businesses included being the exclusive distributor of Fiat and Chrysler cars in Liberia, a stationary and paper company, and a trust company. In the 1960s and 70s, he ventured into real estate, developing buildings in Monrovia and the Hykal Center, a dormitory for female students in Beirut.

Through strong relationships and great business acumen, Eli earned a reputation as a respected businessman and advisor to governments. He was an attaché commercial from Haiti to Liberia and given honorary citizenship by Haiti. He also served as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Liberia in Lebanon, and was bestowed an honorary diplomatic passport. He was a global citizen before "global citizen" was a term, though his true home would always be Lebanon.

His sense of adventure led to owning and breeding racehorses, playing the casinos of Europe, and even trying out for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

In 1972, Eli married Helen Masaad in Beirut, Lebanon. They had three sons, George, James, and Roy, and lived in Beirut and Monrovia. During the Lebanese Civil War beginning in 1975, Eli used his considerable relationships and resources to help keep his family safe, securing them safe passage to London in 1980 before settling in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1981. Eli continued to manage his global businesses while Helen cared for their sons in North Carolina.

The family treasured vacations together in Myrtle Beach, Disney, and eventually Lebanon after the war ended in 1990. Eli was proud to see his sons get their advanced degrees and have successful careers and was delighted to welcome two daughters into the family when George married Deirdre in 2005 and Roy married Yohana in 2009. He took great pride in his five grandchildren, Najla, Zeina, Rafael, Olivia and Amaya, always ready with a chocolate or a coin to press into their hands. A skilled backgammon player, he never went easy on even his youngest opponents.

He will be remembered as a warm and generous man who cherished his faith, family, and friends above all else.

Eli is survived by his wife, Helen; his sons, George (Deirdre), James, and Roy (Yohana); and his grandchildren, Najla, Zeina, Rafael, Olivia, and Amaya, niece Tina Elkins and nephew Mark Haikal. He was preceded in death by his parents, Girgi Eli Hykal and Najla Hykal, née Saleeby; his brothers, Victor and Richard; and his nephew, Patrick Haikal.

A funeral service for Eli will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home in Raleigh, N.C., followed by a burial, then reception (1:30). Friends and family are welcome to join.