Soroor A. Ferdowsali

Soroor Aghdas Eghtedar lived with the quiet dignity of a scholar and the warmth of a home that was always open.

Born June 23, 1935, in Shiraz, Iran, the historic city of poets and wisdom, she was the youngest of nine children. Growing up with eight older siblings in the shadow of its celebrated gardens and in a home filled with the verses of Hafez and Saadi, she absorbed early a reverence for learning, beauty, and hospitality. Shiraz gave her its love of poetry and thoughtful discourse, and she carried that spirit with her for the rest of her life.

In 1964 she married Mohammed Ferdowsali in Shiraz, and together they built a family centered on learning, faith, and hospitality.

She is remembered first as a scholar, not only for her intellect but for the way she taught those around her to read carefully, to ask thoughtful questions, and to value wisdom over noise. That same care showed up at her kitchen table.

Soroor was the devoted mother of three children, Suzie, Ali, and Amir, who were the pride of her life. In her later years, her greatest joys were simple and repeated often: long walks in her garden, cooking meals from memory, and hosting her grandchildren, Rosheen and Ashling, whose laughter filled the home she kept.

She passed peacefully on the evening of June 2, 2026, three weeks shy of her 91st birthday.

She leaves behind her children, her cherished grandchildren Rosheen and Ashling, extended family in Iran and abroad including the families of her eight beloved siblings, and a wide circle of friends and former students who will remember her curiosity, her generosity, and her grace. Her legacy lives on in every book left open on a table, every garden tended with patience, and every meal shared with love.

The family will hold a private gathering in her honor. In lieu of flowers, they invite you to plant something in your garden, cook a favorite dish for someone you love, or share a verse of poetry in her memory, the simple acts she cherished most.