Syed S. "Shafi" Hossain

Syed Shafqat Hossain, known as “Shafi” by those closest to him, was born on December 30, 1969, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. After nearly two years of complications following a stroke he passed away on November 14, 2023.

Raised in Port Huron, Michigan, Shafi was intelligent, witty, and mischievous. He relished his mother’s Bengali cooking, and she often had to chase him out of her kitchen after catching him sneaking potatoes straight out of the pot. He was also the oldest of five children, and helped to raise his youngest siblings. He imparted his love of reading upon them with frequent trips to the bookstore and, for better or worse, heavily influenced their musical tastes with whatever was in his car’s CD player at the time. Some days, this was The Smiths or Depeche Mode. Other days, it was Bryan Adams or his very favorite, Bruce Springsteen.

Shafi’s own children, Vris and Mars, were his entire world. For Father’s Day every year, they chose a brightly-colored t-shirt for him and decorated it with pictures, random funny quotes from the year, and their handprints. These shirts were among his most cherished possessions, and he wore them proudly whenever he was out and about. He loved to take his children on adventures that included kayaking, horseback riding, and surfing. He was a terrible ice skater, but if they wanted to go, he would put on a pair of skates, clutch the rail at the rink, and “skate” alongside them, looking terrified.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Shafqat became a successful infrastructure consultant and engagement manager. He was sought after in multiple industries, including finance, manufacturing, automotive, and the public sector. He enjoyed his work and was often spotted sitting at a desk with anywhere from three to five computer monitors arranged before him. When he enjoyed success, he loved nothing more than to share it with those closest to him. He delighted in planning large, memorable trips such as cruises, beachfront rentals, and international backpacking experiences.

Shafi’s generosity knew no bounds, and his charitable efforts were many, but he was proudest of the time that he spent living in Harlem, teaching a weekly cooking class for at-risk youth as part of a life skills program. He inspired people to be their best selves and would do whatever he could to help them get there, even if he didn’t know them well.

Shafi is survived by his beloved children, Vris (16) and Mars (15) Hossain; his parents, Syed Showkat and Fatema Hossain; siblings, Sadaat Hossain, Syeda MacEachern (Mark), Shumi Ferguson, and Shahida Hossain; his nephews, Gabriel Ferguson, Judah Hossain, and Linus MacEachern; his nieces, Maya Ferguson and Eloise Hossain; countless dear cousins, aunts, and uncles; and many loving friends. He was a bright light and the world is a little bit darker without him.

The family will host visitation in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home in Port Huron, Michigan on Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

To send condolences, visit pollockrandall.com