Dr. Mohammad "Amir" Ali Ghodsi

New York, New York On Monday, June 10, 2024, Dr. Amir (Mohammad Ali) Ghodsi passed peacefully to the other, surrounded by his loved ones. An inspirational educator, author, poet, athlete, and entrepreneur, those who knew him well highlight Amir’s dedication to truth, justice and unwavering faith and trust in God. He epitomized humanity in his generosity of spirit, humility, pure heart and kindness. He was blessed with an incredible mind and ability to excel at anything he attempted whether his studies, sports or other pursuits. Amir was born on May 7, 1936, in Mashad, Iran to Assadolah Ghodsi and Asyeh Deylami. He was the top student in his class at Tehran University (Daneshsara-ye Aali - Institute of Higher Education), receiving his BS in Chemistry. During this time, Amir was a member of the Iranian national volleyball team. He was also an accomplished chess player and managed a draw with world champion Boris Spassky when he visited Iran. On August 23, 1963, Amir was betrothed to his loving wife, Nasrin Kazerani Ghodsi. Immediately after, they traveled to Paris so that Amir could continue his studies at the Sorbonne University - CNRS. He received his PhD with honors in Macromolecular Chemistry in 1968. He returned from Paris to Iran following his education to serve his countrymen by taking a teaching post at Ferdowsi University of Mashad, where he was a respected and revered Professor and Dean of Students and later the founder and President of Shabana Ferdowsi University. He taught his students about striving for knowledge and serving their country as he had done. Upon early retirement, Amir, who cherished a love of agrarian pursuits, opened the first dairy farm in Mashad. In 1978, in anticipation of a coming revolution in Iran, Amir sent his children abroad to England to continue their studies. He sacrificed his love for his country and own life for his love for his family and, in 1982, moved his family from England to the United States, settling in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, Iowa. Amir authored multiple publications in his beloved field of Chemistry, including a two-volume Encyclopedia of Chemistry during 16 years of his retirement dedicated to the children of Iran and to those who believe in knowledge and developing their country, which he presented to the Ferdowsi University of Mashad as a sign of his gratitude and respect for the University. Amir was a devout believer in and spent many years studying and researching the teachings of Rumi. He frequently visited Konya to be closer to achieving the love that he believed would unite all of us with God. In his final years, he authored a book about the life and teachings of Rumi with the sole purpose of bringing this knowledge to the youth. Amir loved to show the world to his children. He had a fear of flying, but that did not stop his zeal for travel. He drove extensively to the East from Iran through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India, to the West from Iran on multiple occasions through Turkey and many countries in between to London, from D.C. to California, and from Toronto to Florida. He settled in Maryland in 2001, but traveled to Puglia, Italy every year despite the flight as he reminisced every day about the similarities between this region and his beloved homeland. He dedicated his life to the love of his life, Nasrin Kazerani Ghodsi, his faithful companion of 60 years, his children who he often referred to as his biggest jewels, Dr. Abdi Ghodsi (b 1964), Dr. Newsha Ghodsi (b 1969), Tamilla Ghodsi (b 1970) and Dr. Zuleika Ghodsi (b 1972) and their spouses, Manijeh Khalaj, Sassan Safay, Bijan Ayromloo and Dr. Ali Soulati, his wife’s siblings who he raised as his own, Ali Reza Kazerani and Nona Kazerani Hunter and their spouses Jodi Kazerani (d 2014) and John Hunter, his sister Shamsi and brother Yahya, and countless others that looked to him as a second father. He is also survived by his grandchildren Reza, Andrew, Keion, Saaman, Shayan, Hanna, Heleah, Maire, Anya, Kianna, Jian, and Arya. Nasrin and the family would like to thank Dr. John Mascarenhas and the dedicated physicians and nurses of Mt. Sinai Hospitals and Clinics, and Dr. Muhammad Siddique, April Motovidlak, and the caring staff at Bay Hematology Oncology and University of Maryland Shore Medical Center Infusion Center. A family and friends gathering is planned for Saturday June 15, 2024, in Easton, Maryland with funeral services at 4 pm at Oxford Cemetery in Oxford, Maryland (Please email familyghodsi@gmail.com for additional information). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that for those who are able and would like to memorialize Amir make donations to the Amir and Nasrin Ghodsi Family Medical Scholarship at the University of Iowa Medical School (http://givetoiowa.org/Ghodsi), the American Red Cross to whom we are grateful for all the blood and platelets that kept Amir alive for the last two years, or any other charity of your choice that supports orphans, who Amir supported throughout his life.

Dr. Mohammad "Amir" Ali Ghodsi

May 7, 1936 - June 10, 2024