Riad Youssef

Riad Emile Youssef, age 56, of Houlton, WI, passed away in the early hours of Friday, August 28, 2020 at home with his family after battling cancer. Riad was born one of five boys to parents Emile & Jeannette Youssef in their home country of Lebanon. After completing high school, Riad moved to the United States to pursue a career in the medical field. He finished his undergraduate work at Loyola University in Chicago, IL, before moving onto graduate school at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, & eventually enrolling in medical school at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, MN. Riad completed a residency in oral & maxillofacial surgery before going on to practice as a specialist in the field.

Though an oral surgeon by trade, Riad had a true passion for teaching. He taught in the Oral Surgery Department of the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, MN, & was a respected coach for multiple youth soccer teams. He mentored high school students interested in going into the medical profession; but most memorably, Riad taught all those who met him how to be a kind & compassionate human being by leading by example.

In 1999, Riad married fellow medical professional & best friend, Tammi Plotnik, in a ceremony in Tammi’s hometown of Spicer, MN. The couple had three wonderful children together, Maya, Sam, & Bella; with whom Riad cherished every moment & of whom he was most proud. Riad was first & foremost a family man who prioritized spending time with his children, wife, brothers, nieces & nephews; but he also had many outdoor hobbies that he enjoyed sharing with his family. Riad loved fishing, skiing, playing soccer, golfing, & scuba diving. He may have lived his life with cancer, but he didn’t let cancer live his life for him. Riad will always be remembered for his resilient attitude, lust for life, & compassionate spirit by all who were blessed to have known him in this life.

Riad will forever be remembered by his beloved wife of 20 years, Tammi Youssef (nee Plotnik); adored children, Maya, Sam, & Bella Youssef; father, Emile Youssef of Willow Brook, IL; brothers, Joe (Amal) Youssef of Clarendon Hills, IL, Nicolas (Nadine) Youssef of Darien, IL, & Sam (Kim) Youssef of Clarendon Hills, IL; sister-in-law, Cathy Youssef; parents-in-law, Frank & Donna Plotnik of Spicer, MN; nieces & nephews, Amanda & Stephanie, George, Mathew, & Emma, & Norah & Sophia; as well as many friends, neighbors, co-workers, patients, students, & soccer mentees. He is preceded in death by his mother, Jeannette; & brother, Elias.

A Funeral Mass for Riad was live streamed & recorded at 5:00 P.M, Monday, August 31, 2020 via St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Hudson, WI’s Facebook page. A link to the video can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/stpatrickparishhudson/live_videos/ Memorials for Riad’s family may be sent to: O’Connell Family Funeral Home, Care of Riad Youssef Family, 520 11th St. S. Hudson, WI, 54016, to be forwarded on your behalf.