About My Mom

My mom was born and raised in Tehran, Iran.

When she was just 18, she left Iran by herself and moved to San Francisco for college. Like many other Iranians of her generation, my mom planned on returning home after school. But just 2 weeks after she arrived here, the Iranian Revolution of 1979 happened. Her parents couldn't send her anymore money. She was forced to work three jobs while remaining a full-time Architecture student.

The U.S. State Department began deporting Iranians with student visas. Unlike several of her Iranian colleagues, my mom was able to prove to the deportation office that she was a valuable enough asset to the U.S. and should therefore not be deported.

After I was born, my mom started her own Architecture firm. A few years later my dad, also an Architect, joined her business. My mom has always been the President of the firm, and my dad the Vice-President.

My mom was written about in March Magazine, a magazine that focuses successful businesswomen. You can read the article here.The article was published in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue, just a month before my mom's diagnosis.

My mom is strongest and most resilient (and most stubborn) woman I know.

My mom in March 2009

My mom in July 2011

 

After my mom passed away, I made a slide show in her memory: