Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

August 2, 2023

CHARLOTTE – Khalil Elie Kardous was born June 12, 1942 in Damascus, Syria, to Elie and Chahira Kardous. He was known to his friends as Kal, and would have been referred to that way by strangers, as well, if he’d ever met one.

Kal left Damascus in 1965 to attend what was then Wisconsin State University–Platteville, beginning an education in business and economics and a lifelong love affair with the United States. After graduation he moved to Skokie, Illinois, for an opportunity to explore the wide world of office equipment at Intercontinental Photo Copy.  It wasn’t long before warmer climates and the promise of a growing city called, and Kal headed south to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1971.  He made new friends fast (naturally), and in 1972 teamed up with partners to help found White Business Machines.

In 1973 he met his favorite partner, Dr. Marie-Claire Marroum, in Charlotte and leveraged his considerable sales skills to convince her to marry him before she left for New York for a fellowship.  They had a son, Paul, whom he loved dearly.

After a 16-year career at WBM, Kal joined Barry Houser, Randy Sides, Bobby Tsiabassis, and Joe Gamble to form Charlotte Copy Data, fulfilling a boyhood dream of starting his own company.  

A proud American citizen, Kal was also fiercely loyal to his Syrian heritage—and the thickly accented English it provided him.  With a little encouragement from Jake Gurley and Fred Story, he recorded tongue-in-cheek commercials for Charlotte Copy Data with the memorable tag line “Our accent is on quality.”  The spots became a staple on local radio airwaves, and garnered advertising awards and even some fan mail. 

The radio advertising, and a reputation for high-quality local service, produced great success for the company. It grew to become Copy Data Network, one of the largest independent office equipment dealers in the South, with 10 locations, 280 employees, and a commitment to a family atmosphere.

Kal sold Copy Data Network in March 2008 and retired, mostly—though he always enjoyed working part-time with his son, Paul.  He also had just a few other ways of keeping busy.  An advocate for the entrepreneurial spirit, he believed it could not exist without community and philanthropy.  At various times he served on the boards of directors for the Central Piedmont Community College Foundation and the International House, and was a member and membership chair of Charlotte North Rotary Club.  In 2011 Kal received the Richard Vinroot International Achievement Award from the Charlotte International Cabinet, and in 2013 he was honored to be the commencement speaker and recipient of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville’s Distinguished Alumni Award in the College of Business, Life Science, & Agriculture.

With his Orthodox faith firmly at the center of his life, Kal was a devoted member of the community at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral for more than 50 years—singing in the choir, volunteering as a greeter at Yiasou Greek Festival, and serving as president of American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Marathon Chapter No 2 and on the board of the AHEPA Foundation.  Kal also held a position on the board of trustees of The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, acting as an ambassador for the Antiochian Orthodox faith both in the U.S. and abroad. He was instrumental in setting up a fund for University of Balamand to educate clergy and provide scholarships to deserving students.  He also helped shepherd numerous new Antiochian parishes in the Carolinas and was involved with the Antiochian Village and Heritage Center.  In late July of this year, he was unanimously re-elected to the board of the archdiocese.

During Kal’s decades in Charlotte, he forged and relished his long friendships with people from all walks of life—the people he golfed with, served on boards with, and smoked cigars and traded stories with. Later this fall a “Celebration of Kal” will be held for everyone to share their best Kal stories in the same jovial way he lived his life. Details will be forthcoming.

Khalil “Kal” Elie Kardous passed away unexpectedly at his home in Charlotte on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Marie-Claire; his son, Paul; his brothers, Farid Kardous and his wife, Mary and Kamil Kardous and his wife, Jouhaina and sister, May Maalouf and her husband, Ghassan. Also surviving are his nieces and nephews, Lynn, Sami, Nadim and his wife Tamara, Elie, Karim, Sean and his wife, Christina, and Shahira and her husband, Ted, and so many dear and beloved friends.

Funeral services for Kal will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 11, 2023, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Charlotte, NC.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.  The service will be livestreamed at:  https://vimeo.com/event/165729/457c79a80e for those unable to attend in person.

Memorials in Kal’s honor may be made to Kal Kardous Memorial Fund, c/o Foundation for The Carolinas, 220 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 (https://www.fftc.org/KardousMemorialFund) or Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203 or Antiochian Archdiocese of North America, PO Box 5238, Englewood, NJ 07631.

May His Memory Be Eternal.

***Please send all flowers to the church by 9:00 AM on Friday, August 11.***

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.