Once when I was visiting Tehran, I happened to walk past the entrance of a small local hospital. I saw a young man sitting on the stairs, quitely crying. I bought two ice cream cones from the store next door, sat down next to him and offered him one of the cones. He wiped his tears and took the ice cream. He spent two hours telling me about his dad who had just passed away. I remember well the salty taste of my own tears mixed with the sweetness of the thick, rose-water scented Iranian-style ice cream. He thanked me and left. I never thought I'd be in his position so soon.
Dr. Cyrus Safdari, Sr.
December 12, 1936 - March 8, 2010.
Inna lillah wa inna ilaihi rajiun
Posted by: Taz | March 15, 2010 at 08:02 AM
May Allah (SWT) bless your father, and give you strength during this tough time. Keep uo the good work.
Posted by: PakistaniSunniMuslim | March 14, 2010 at 06:28 AM
Very sorry to hear this. Very sad.
Posted by: Arnold Evans | March 12, 2010 at 12:19 PM
So sorry for your loss, Cyrus.
Posted by: azam | March 10, 2010 at 11:59 PM
My condoleances, Cyrus.
Posted by: estouxim | March 10, 2010 at 09:26 PM
I was very sorry to read of your loss. My condolences to you and to all his loved ones, may God bless his soul.
Posted by: markfromireland | March 10, 2010 at 05:07 PM
Oh Cyrus, I am so sorry.
Posted by: Goli | March 09, 2010 at 06:37 PM
So sorry for your loss Cyrus..
Posted by: sina | March 09, 2010 at 05:55 PM
Rest in peace. My thoughts are with you and your family. Hang in there sir.
Posted by: Jon B | March 09, 2010 at 05:43 PM
My sincere condolences.
Posted by: Ali K. | March 09, 2010 at 04:30 PM
I am sorry for your loss.
Posted by: k_w | March 09, 2010 at 03:48 PM
Inna lillaahi wa inna ilaihi raaji'un (From Allah we come and to Him is our return). May God have mercy on Him.
Posted by: Mujahid | March 09, 2010 at 09:14 AM
Sad news Cyrus. I wish you, your family and all others who loved him strength and peace.
Posted by: Juan | March 09, 2010 at 08:02 AM
May God bless his soul
Posted by: h | March 09, 2010 at 05:54 AM
Sorry to hear that, Cyrus-jan.
We lost our Iranian father almost ten years ago. (I'm half-Iranian.) It just hasn't been the same without him. We not only lost our dad, we lost our living cultural link to the old country. I'm sure my dad would be amazed by my recent interest in this half of my cultural heritage.
There were many real-Iranian things my dad could do that I can't- and I've tried. He could fold his hands together and snap his fingers to the beat of the music (I've seen a Tajik do this on YouTube). He could make his eyebrows dance independently to the tune of music (I've seen an Uzbek do this on TV). And there were many other distinctly persian things he did we loved and miss a great deal.
Anyway, I'm sure your dad was proud of you for many reasons, of which one was setting the public straight on the Iran nuclear issue.
-Pirouz
Posted by: Pirouz | March 09, 2010 at 04:53 AM
Sorry for your loss.
Posted by: Anthony | March 09, 2010 at 03:57 AM
May he rest in peace.
Posted by: MoonofA | March 09, 2010 at 01:51 AM
My deepest sympathy and sincere condolences, Cyrus. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Posted by: Nima | March 09, 2010 at 01:49 AM
I am so sorry to hear that Cyrus, my deepest condolences to the family, May God bless his soul.
Ray
Posted by: Ray | March 09, 2010 at 01:22 AM
May God rest his soul. So sorry for your loss...
Posted by: Layla B | March 09, 2010 at 01:20 AM