 In Memeory of Tahirih K. Foroughi by Bahereh 
| |  |  Tahirih K. Foroughi, Ph.D., (1936-2007). "I accept death, if it is God's will. We Baha'is believe that without God's will not a single leaf can depart the tree." As she wrote in one of her poems 24 years ago, Tahirih Khodadoust Foroughi passed away bravely and by God's will on January 1st, 2007. Married for 50 years to Ata Foroughi, Tahirih was born on June 17, 1936, in Kerman, Iran. She was the first child of her parents, father having been a renowned banker from Tehran and mother a homemaker and lover of literature from Kerman. Tahirih was a studious child and teenager and filled her time with school, music classes, Baha'i activities and helping her parents with the upbringing of five younger siblings. Upon graduation from high school, she initially decided to study architecture, an idea which did not work out. She then decided to study nursing in England, but soon pursued a six-month secretarial course instead. Having become fluent in shorthand and English, she was quickly hired by a firm upon return to Iran. Less than a year back, she married Ata from Kashan, Iran, and by the time she was 25 had three kids, twin daughters Monica (Nassim) and Gina (Gisue), and son Payam. Having been brought up by a banker father and exposed to numbers, Tahirih began studying business at a college in Iran, while also teaching the subject at a local international school. By age of 27 she completed a B.A. from Tehran Business School and soon began working for an industrial bank. Five years later, while still working full-time at the bank, she completed her Masters in Business Administration from Tehran University and began teaching at the same institution. By 1970 she accepted a scholarship to take graduate courses at Stanford University in California, and continued with her studies at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where she completed her Ph.D. coursework in Accounting by 1973. She then returned to Iran for a full schedule of teaching at Tehran University and the Harvard-affiliated Iran Center for Management Studies. She defended her Ph.D. dissertation in 1975. Tahirih thus became the first Iranian woman ever to earn a Ph.D. in Accounting and the first female professor to head an Accounting department in Iran, a post she held for five years at Tehran University. By the time of the 1979 Revolution of Iran, when work environment especially for a female and Baha'i professor had become virtually impossible, Tahirih sought a teaching position in America where her three children were by then studying. She accepted an offer by the University of Nevada-Reno where she was an Associate Professor of Accounting until 1984. Since her first grandchild was by then born in Mesa, Tahirih decided to move to Arizona and take up a job as Professor of Accounting with the American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale where she taught until 1995 when she retired due to complications of the debilitating Parkinson's disease. During her university and creative career, Tahirih published seven academic books and about 30 scholarly articles, in addition to about half-dozen books of poetry. Aside from her loving husband Ata, who took excellent care of her especially towards the end of her life, and her three children, Tahirih is survived by three grandchildren: Emery (Jalal), Colby (Nabil), and Ashley (Anissa); son-in-law Richard Jeffers of Phoenix; daughter-in-law Raissa Muhutdinova of Tajikistan; in addition to five siblings: Iraj in Georgia, Bahereh in Pennsylvania, Heshmat in Australia, and Manouchehr and Nadereh in Iran. Tahirih's cousin, Bijan Mozaffari, and his wife Mahvash from Phoenix area visited her just hours prior to her passing. Tahirih will always be remembered as a unique individual with a great passion not only for academics, caring for her students and love for her near ones, but also a kind character who embraced the society at-large with a belief in world peace and oneness of humanity. On the eve of her passing, Tahirih went like a gentle bird whose gradually weakened body could no longer support her incredibly strong heart. She now flies above earthly clouds, soaring to new spiritual heights. As she had written in one of her poems: "My Faith is my Freedom. I am free like a bird." |
obituary/ Sign Guest BOOKy  | Tahirih’s Dream
I was standing on a large patio facing a big garden,
Watching the beautiful garden,
The tall trees stretching to the sky,
The fresh green lawn starching between the patio and the tall trees,
I specially watch the red roses which were planted on the border of the tall trees and the lawn. I admired their beauty in my heart.
Suddenly I saw my dear mother,
Dressed in a neat, beautiful and colorful dress …
Waking gently with her own special charm,
Whispering one of her own poems
I suddenly realized,
I have not seen my mother for so many years…..
Quickly, I run down the stairs
Embraced my mother, huged her, kissed her, smelled her and asked her if she returned from the other world to this world?
She said:
My Dear Tahirih,
The other world is not separate from this world
Not only they are one, but the worlds of God are all one and inseparable.
Then she said:
I wanted to come to see you but it was not possible.
Because I had many things to do.
I was told to be patient.
Then she said:
Now there are a few days that Bahi Jaan came here
She was tired and had to get some rest
Now that I gave her my works to do I am here to see you
But soon I have to return
She continued:
By the way your father came here with me too
And pointed to my dear father
Who slowly walk on the lawn holding his cane?
My dear father turns his face to us and gently waved his hand. partialy translated from Tahirih's Dream(in Farsi)
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This past Naw Ruz was the first NoRooz without my dear Tahirih, but without a doubt the spirit of our dearly departed loved ones is with us more than ever, and we know that as much as we miss our dear Tahirih, but undoubtedly she is safe and is in peace in the world of spirits. A Happy Naw-Ruz to you and to our dear Tahirih too! As my nephew Omid said it so beautifully, this might be the best Eternal-Never Ending New Year for her! Lets open our arms, hearts and minds to celebrate life anew, and to grow with it. Let us hope for a wonderful year ahead, for a future filled with love, peace, unity, and friendship!
She was like a flower whose love just like a rose has perfumed my life from childhood all the way to adulthood. She will always be remembered by me as the dearest sister anyone can wish for, and she will be missed by everyone whose life was touched by her love, and by any one who had the privilege of knowing her.
Bahereh
The following document needs Farsi Font Hayedeh The Tea Party
To my mother
I am sitting in my living room
sipping tea.
the most delicious tea
the most pleasing tea
the most refreshing tea
a tea with the sweet scent of roses
a tea with the romantic aroma of honeysuckles
a tea with the refreshing smell of orange
a tea with the wonderful fragrance of jasmines
I am drinking tea
a tea touched by the gentle presence of cardamom
a tea fostered with the excitement of cinnamon
a tea educated with the excellence of saffron
a tea remarked with a tender touch of mint
I am having tea, sip-by-sip
a tea sweetened with the sugar of love
a tea seasoned with the spice of kindness
a tea strengthened with the honey of affinity
a tea rainbowed with the saffron of friendship
a tea nurtured with the advice of affection
a tea disciplined with
just an air of the bitterness of concern
I am enjoying my tea.
a tea blended in the blender of unity
a tea matured in the container of modesty
a tea packed in the hands of motherhood
a tea submitted through the mail of submission
a tea brewed in the teapot of tranquility
on the gentle fire of harmony
a tea poured into the cup of memories
the WONDERFUL SWEET memories of my BELOVED MOTHER.
She sent me this tea from Persia.
in a small container
fifteen years ago.
Alas. Alas. she passed away five years later
This tea is an example of my mother.
Every time I drink this tea.
I learn a new lesson of life.
Just like my beloved mother.
It teaches me a new lesson, each time.
Every single time I was with her
she taught me a lesson of life
by her example, not by words.
I have made many cups of this tea
but, just like my mother
and her unforgettable example of excellence
in deeds and words.
and, just like her unforgettable kindness and gentleness.
her tea has continued to exist and to be with me.
I have had numerous Tea Parties with her tea.
both alone or with family and friends.
In these tea parties I have felt my mother
and she has touched me.
I have extended my mother’s tea
by adding new tea to the jar
and, by blending and mixing the new tea
very well
with the original tea.
and I intend to continue this process
forever.
as long as I live.
Thus, she will be with me
any time I give a TEA PARTY.
You are certainly welcome to join me. - Tahirih Khodadoost-Foroughi
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