Remembering Our Friend Essie
In November 2014 we published a book entitled “Center of Excellence, A Tribute to Drs. Lisa Djavadi-Ohaniance and Fereydoun Djavadi, Founders of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran.”
As the subtitle indicates, the book honors two exceptional biochemists who, together with a number of faculty members of the University of Tehran, established the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB). Dr. Esmail Meisami (Essie) was one of the cofounders. The 54-page book with leather hard cover contains photographs, English text and Farsi text.
IBB is a graduate research and teaching entity of the University of Tehran that hired well-qualified scientists and staff and accepted excellent graduate students from across the country by means of entrance examinations and interviews. From 1975 through 1978, the institute organized three major symposia with renowned international authorities as speakers, with a number of Nobel laureates among them. Those symposia together with peer- reviewed papers published in first-rate international journals by IBB scientists, helped the institute to be highly recognized at the national and international levels. IBB established contact and collaboration with the best laboratories in the world, where the IBB graduates could easily be accepted for continued education and research. It is remarkable that this young institute withstood the onslaught of the revolution, and continues since its beginning nearly 40 years ago, to conduct research and train students.
The contributors to our book include IBB students, staff and faculty that we were able to contact. Several scientists who had close association with IBB also contributed to the book. Essie, one of the founding faculty members of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (DCMB) and IBB, was one of the contributors. Before his untimely death, Essie submitted a piece that briefly presents the history of the establishment of DCMB and IBB and describes his role in the creation of those fine teaching and research institutions (p. 27). The book also has a section on “In Memoriam” (p. 26) that remembers the colleagues that we lost along the way, including our dear friend Essie.
In preparing the book, we were fortunate to have Mona Meisami Reilly (Essie’s daughter) as our graphic artist. Her expert graphic design work and her skill in incorporating the photographs with English and Persian texts have created a fine book that is loved by all who have seen it. We are sure that Essie would be pleased at the publication of a collaborative book that also includes the talents of his lovely daughter.
Please click here if you would like to see the book:
Ali Estilai and Ellen Estilai
1 Year Anniverary of the passing of Dr. Essie Meisami
A note on the memorial for Dr. Esmail Meisami (Essie)
On May 5th, 2013, my wife and I attended a memorial for our friend Essie at the Hiller Highlands Country Club in Oakland, California. Mona Reilly, Dr. Meisami’s daughter, organized a beautiful and memorable event. Several of Mona’s friends helped her with organization. Some of Essie’s family members provided food, and several of Essie’s friends provided generous funds to cover the cost of the event. More than sixty people attended the memorial, including several colleagues/former graduate students from the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB): Dr. Mohsen Gorgani, Dr. Farhad Shafa, Dr. Mahtash Mousavi, and Dr. Rouhi Safaei.
Speakers at the memorial included Mona, along with her four-year-old daughter, Mariam, who made some introductory remarks and thanked everyone for coming; Dr. Julie Scott Meisami, Essie’s ex-wife and Mona’s mother; Abdollah Khalili, Essie’s cousin; Dr. Sara Georing, a former graduate student at the University of Illinois, Dr. Mohsen Gorgani, a friend and colleague from IBB; and myself. The following is a part of what I said at the memorial: (videos of 2 speeches available at the end of this post)
Dr. Esmail Meisami (our Essie) was my best friend, my distinguished colleague at IBB, a dear friend to my family, and a sweet uncle to our daughters, Samira and Sarah. He was our own Amoo Essie. Essie enjoyed a good laugh. He told jokes, and he loved to hear jokes. I am sure that many of you have received emails from him containing all kinds of jokes. I was going to go through the thousands of emails that I received from him and select a few good ones for today but I ran out of time. Today I remembered the following two jokes, and I ask your forgiveness for my poor delivery:
#1
A husband and wife are at the county fair, and they reach the section on animal husbandry. They see a nice bull, and the sign next to him reads that this bull mated 50 times last year. The wife elbows the husband and says,” This is almost once a week!” In the next stall, they see the second bull with a sign saying that this bull mated 150 times last year. The wife elbows the husband harder and says, “This is almost three times a week!” Finally they see the third bull with a sign saying that this bull mated 350 times last year. This time the wife elbows the husband very hard and says, “This is almost once a day!” The husband, in real pain, tells his wife go and ask the bull if he did it with the same partner.
#2
I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, government health care, the real estate debacle, the federal deficit, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, global warming, my credit card debt… So I called the Suicide Hot Line. I got a call center in Pakistan. I told them I was suicidal. They got excited, and I could hear them cheering on the other end of the line. Then they asked if I could drive a truck.
But now I would like to get to some more serious matters. Many friends, colleagues, and former students have asked me to convey their condolences to Essie’s family and friends and their apologies for not being able to attend the memorial. I ‘ll just mention a few names and beg forgiveness from those whose names I missed: Dr. Lisa Djavadi; Dr. Ferydoun Djavadi, Dr. Parviz Sabour; Dr. Khashayar Javaherian; Dr. Youssef Hatefi; Dr. Farrokh Modabber; Dr. Tahereh Rahmani; Dr. Pezeshkpoor Mostachfi; Dr. Homa Mostachfi; Dr. Esmail Hoseiny Shokrai; Dr. Khashayar Karimian; Dr. Shahin Ahmadian; Dr. Gagik Sarkissian; Dr. Mahnaz Moradi; Dr. Masoud Askari; Dr. Iraj Ganjian; Dr. Shirin Manouchehri; Dr. Firouz Jahaniaval; Dr. Farshad Girakhoo; Dr. Nozar Sachinvala; Dr. Latif Safari; Dr. Mahmoud Ghaffari; Dr. Parvaneh Nourjah; Dr. Elaheh Nooshinfar; Dr. Nahid Razi; Hedayat Jafari, Hussein and Mahin Ahvari; Mahin Barati; Frouzandeh Jalilvand; Batoul Asadi; and Dr. Nasrin Haamedi.
I met Essie in 1971. The University of Tehran had hired him six months before I returned home. One day when I had gone to the university to inquire about the decision of the executive committee of the Biology Department regarding my appointment, Essie invited me to tea. We walked through the campus to Shahreza Street and went to a café next to Cinema Diamond. Over a glass of tea and a Danish pastry we talked about our research at the University of California (he had been at Berkeley and I had been at Davis) and our goals for our future research and teaching at the University of Tehran. We also talked about our families. I learned that, like me, he had an American wife, Julie, who at the time was teaching at the National University. I remember going home that day very excited about meeting Essie and telling my wife Ellen that I think we are going to have new friends for life!
After I received the sad news of Essie’s death I could not control myself, and I was crying a lot. I thought if I sat by my computer and wrote something it might calm me down. Here is what I wrote on January 28th:
It has been a sad week. Our friend’s daughter called to let my wife and me know that her father Essie died in Champagne-Urbana. We cried on the phone. We could not control ourselves. We could not comfort Mona on the other end of the line.
It has been a sad week. I prepared an email and sent it to more than 40 people, our mutual colleagues, friends and former students. The email contained the basics: who our friend was, where he got his BA and Ph.D., the institutions of higher learning where he taught, the laboratories he built, a mention of the numerous scientific papers and books he published, and a sample of his students’ comments expressing why he was the greatest, the most friendly, and the most helpful professor they have ever had.
It has been a sad week. I cried aloud and in silence. I could not help myself. How could I not think about a loss of the man who has been my friend for more than 42 years? We participated in building a new institution together. We wrote the biology textbooks for Iranian high school students together. We went on a sabbatical leave together. Our children grew up together. Our wives were closest friends. We witnessed a revolution together, we got mamnoo olkhorooj (exit prohibited) together, and we reluctantly left our country together to adopt another country.
It has been a sad week. The recipients of the sad news were calling and emailing me, expressing their shock and sorrow. I did not know how to stop thinking about Essie. I turned on my computer and loaded a chess database and started playing over the games of earlier world champions like Botvinnic, Tal, Spassky, and Bobby Fischer, the American champion, who ended the domination of the Russians. For a while, this was a good distraction. Then, I remembered that at one time, when Essie was introducing me to a new friend, he mentioned that I also played chess. My thoughts left the chessboard, and Essie appeared again
It has been a sad week. I told myself I should go to the garden and weed. Weeding has always been therapeutic for me. I don’t bring a radio or an iPod to the garden. I immerse myself totally into the task of weeding and let my thoughts travel anywhere and everywhere they want to go. There are always lots of weeds in the garden. Winter weeds, summer weeds, annual weeds, perennial weeds, and plants that are not weeds but, because of being unwanted in a certain location, become weeds by definition.
It has been a sad week. As I got busy weeding, a nagging question crept in. Why is my vocabulary so limited when it comes to consoling people in grief? Is my vocabulary really limited or is it that I do not want to use certain phrases? I know that I would never say, “may God bless his soul,” or “may God protect you and your family.” Basically, I do not want to use the word God and any supernatural force to help us at the time of grief. But I know that my friend was a great human being, and in spite of all the obstacles in his way, he worked very hard to help people and make them a little happier.
It has been a sad week. I am calming down a little. Admiration is slowly replacing my emotions. I know that I will never forget Essie because he was my decent and loving friend.
Ali Estilai
see The gallery of the life of Essie Meisami
Speech by Dr. Ali Estilai
Speech by Julie Meisami
California Memorial on May 5, 2013
Dear friends and family, I am pleased to invite you to come together and join us to celebrate the life of my dear dad Essie. Information about the Location and Hotels nearby are provided below. Please forward this page to anyone you feel will want to attend.
Sunday May 5th – 11am-3pm
Highlands Country Club
110 Hiller Dr., Oakland, CA 94618
Comment from Nina Gazanfari
My name is Nina Gazanfari and I am a former student and deep admirer of your father, Dr Meisami. I wish to offer my condolences to you and your family for your father’s passing and share some of the wonderful memories he graced my life with.
I first met your father as a college student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in his physiology course. On the first day of the course, I felt his contagious passion for human physiology and I knew that his course would be one of my favorites all semester. He taught so uniquely from other professors. He would walk up and down the aisles of the 200 person lecture hall, making every corner of the room feel welcome and engaged. He called on us to answer questions, referring to each of us as “my friend.” He taught difficult physiological topics in a comprehensible manner through his fan-favorite Physiology Coloring Book, a fun way to learn. I cherish my copy.
I will always have a special place in my heart for your father because he made U of I feel like a home to me, and he made me feel that somebody believed in me and thought I was important when I was at the most infantile stage of my career journey. There is a quote that goes something like this: “You can tell a lot about a man’s character by the way he treats those who can do nothing for him.” That quote reminds me a lot of your father, because he had a way of seeing through people, seeing what we could become and seeing what we could add to the world instead of what we were at that moment. He was transcendent.
I often felt like a “fish in the sea” in many of my 300+ student biology classes at U of I, but not with Dr Meisami. He had a special way of finding something worthwhile in every person he met, and he was great at bringing the best out in people. He wrote me a letter of recommendation for medical school which I could not have gotten into medical school without, and I am forever grateful for his support and belief in me.
I will honor your father’s support of my lifelong dream by aiming to emanate my favorite qualities of his: his kindness, his ability to see the good in people, his zest for life and discovery, his love for science, and his compassion.
I am sending warm thoughts of comfort and consolation to you and your family and hoping that you are feeling some peace. I am blessed to have known your father and will forever respect and regard him as one of my biggest inspirations and role models in this life. May his kind soul rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Nina
Comment from Belal Mosaferi
Dear Mona, Nooshin, Julie, Ayda;
I wish to offer my condolences to you and your family for your father’s passing. We were
remembering how much we appreciated him sending his book of “The Physiology Coloring
Book” to us at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran to translate it to Persian. Seeing
eahc other in the congress of Iranian society of physiology and pharmacology in Hamedan was
quite pleased. I was always congratulating him on our eids. He is always in my heart and I
remember him fondly. I will never forget him.
Respectfully,
Belal Mosaferi, Ph.D Student of Physiology
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
40th Day Remembrance at the University of Tehran, Iran
40th Day Remembrance for the late Dr. Esmail Meisami at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Iran
Dr. Mahmood Ghaffari, the deputy director of IBB, reports that a memorable and beautiful event was held on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, at the institute. The event included a poetry reading, clips of pictures of Dr. Meisami and his students, and speeches by several individuals.
As host, Dr. Ghaffari welcomed the audience for attending the event to remember the life and the accomplishments of the beloved Dr. Meisami. He also remembered other faculty and former students of IBB who have passed away in recent years, including Drs. Naghizadeh, Malekzadeh, Sar Bolooki, and Ziaee, Mr. Ahmad Shakibaee, and Ms. Esmat Razaaqmanesh. Dr. Ghaffari then gave a brief history of the establishment of IBB by its founders Drs. Lisa Djavadi, Ferydoun Djavadi, Esmail Meisami, Ali Estilai, Parviz Sabour, and others. He emphasized that the creation of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, the establishment of the many laboratories, including the electron microscopy laboratories, the building of the greenhouse, the photography facilities and the library, were all accomplished by the founders. He mentioned that Dr. Meisami was one of the authors of the high school biology textbooks and a principal organizer of the three international symposia, which were held at the University of Tehran between 1975 and 1978.
The next speaker, Engineer Mohsen Khalily, a relative of Dr. Meisami, talked about the scientific genius and the humanitarian qualities of Essie and expressed his disappointment in the country’s failure to keep its qualified scientists in the country to serve and move the country forward.
Dr. Latif Safari, a former student of Dr. Meisami, presented sweet memories of his former professor and enumerated his contributions. He also criticized the situations that resulted in the brain drain of the country.
Dr. Shahla Emamian, another former student, with tears in her eyes, spoke of Dr. Meisami’s kindness and helpfulness and remembered and honored all of the founders of IBB and her fellow students.
Miss Elham Morad, the emcee, thanked the attendants. Although it was a working day, lots of people from a number of institutions attended the remembrance.
On behalf of Dr. Meisami’s family and myself, I would like to thank Dr. Ghaffari, Ms. Morad, Ms. Qasemi, Ms. Naderi and all of the people of IBB for organizing a memorable remembrance worthy of our beloved Essie.
Ali Estilai
Remembrance at IBB Institute, University of Tehran
On Wednesday February 27th, an event will be held and IBB, University of Tehran organized by Dr. Ghaffari. This will be held on the 4oth day after Dr. Meisami’s passing. Please comment or email if there are any questions and thank you.
Announcement of the 40th Day Remembrance at the University of Tehran, Iran
A 40th day remembrance for Dr. Esmail Meisami will be held on Wednesday, February 27th, at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Everyone is invited.
Family Memorial in Tehran, Iran
Dr. Mahmood Ghaffari, Deputy Director of the University of Tehran’s Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), reports that a beautiful family memorial was held at Mrs. Khalily’s residence in Tehran on Friday, February 15, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Family members, friends, and former students of the late Dr. Esmail Meisami attended the memorial. Several people who knew Dr. Meisami during his tenure at IBB were present, including Dr. Emamian, Dr. Latif Safari (a former student), Abdullah Soleimani, and Aboulfazl Fallah. After a brief talk, Dr. Ghaffari invited everyone to attend a 40th day remembrance, which will be held on Wednesday, February 27th, at IBB from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.
Family Memorial service February 15 in Iran
خويشاوندان و دوستان عزيز
به مناسبت درگذشت نابهنگام اسمعيل عزيز گردهم آييم و راجع به او بگوييم و بشنويم.
انسانی والا، دانشمندی ارزشمند، پرصفا و محبت، چهره ای شاد با چشمانی خندان که از شادی هایش به فراوانی
می گفت و ناسلامتی ها و غم هایش را پنهان می کرد.
ضمناً هر يك از خويشاوندان يا دوستان كه امكان حضور در مجلس يادبود را ندارند، در صورت تمایل خاطرات خودشان از
اسمعيل عزيز را به آدرس ferdowsman@yahoo.ca ارسال نمايند.
روز جمعه 27/11/91 از ساعت 3 تا 6 بعدازظهر در آدرس فرمانيه غربی، آبكوه چهارم، پلاك 6، آپارتمان 801،
تلفن : 22705831
منصوره خليلی- دختر دايی اسمعيل را سرافراز كنيد.
Comments from Parvaneh Noorjah
چه خبر تلخ و دردناک و تکان دهنده ای است- نمی توانم باور کنم که استاد عزیزمان که وجودی پر از صفا و محبت داشتند از بینمان رفته باشند- باورتان شاید نشه که من همیشه و بخصوص این اواخر امیدوار بودم در اینده نزدیکی ایشان رادو باره در انستیتو بیوشیمی بیوفیزیک دانشگاه تهران در آزمایشگاه خودشان ببینم- خیلی خیلی از انچه پیش امده متاسفم و به شما صمیمانه تسلیت میگم.
پروانه نورجاه
Comments from Parvin Ghossi
یاد و خاطره استاد فقید دکتر میثمی راگرامی میدارم وبرای شما صبر و شکیبایی و عمر طولانی آرزو دارم.
پروین قوسی
Comments from Dale Whiteside
I was really stunned with the news of Essie which Parviz passed to me today. My memories are still strong and warm of our days together in Berkeley. I kept thinking there would be a reunion one day and we would all sit and around and laugh remembering the happy times. Perhaps this can still happen but without Essie there will be a big part missing.
Please accept my condolences on the loss of such a lovely soul.
Best regards, Dale
Dale Whiteside
Comments from Parviz Sabour
We have lost a very good friend, but for me he was a very special friend since 1964 when we met at UC Berkeley. I am saddened so much that by sharing some of my memories of my good friend I am doing a bit of self-grief therapy and I beg your patience. Essie was a “human par excellence.” It is hard to use the past tense now!
Amongst the Iranian students at UCB we were a minority in Biological Sciences. He just started his BA program in physiology and I was in my second year of my PhD in genetics. We both witnessed the sixties events together, had many common friends, participated in many discussions on all kinds of issues–including, Iranian politics, shared good food, and hosted each other’s weddings. We both returned to Iran to “serve.”
Essie and I joined the Department of Biology of Tehran University and I at the then National University of Iran. We began teaching our fields of interest and were so excited to bring the “good news” to the most enthusiastic students. He was my most trusted colleague with whom I could share my personal issues, including problems with the notorious SAVAK. It was Essie who, by introducing me to Lisa and Fereydoun Javadi, set the groundwork for me to remain in Iran. After two years of teaching, mostly without pay, in 1972 I decided to immigrate, first to the US and then to Canada. Eventually, the Essie-Javadi team set the groundwork for my pardon by the late Shah and, finally, the closing of my file. Together with the new team, IBB was created and then came the revolution, which created a new problem for both Essie and me. During all the turmoil Essie kept his usual positive attitude, of course with a smile. He loved children and was a humanist at heart. We used to enjoy Essie and Julie’s weekend hospitality in their newly built Karaj home, where our children played together.
My last communication with Essie was two weeks ago when expressed his joy at seeing my granddaughter’s picture. My sincere condolences to Essies’s extended family in Illinois and California.
Yadash javidan,
Parviz Sabour
Comments from Latif Safari
I am so sad to hear that our dear Dr Meisami has passed away. He was an amazing person, a great teacher and a wonderful friend. His passing will not only leave a void in our lives, but in the hearts of everyone who knew him, and his memory will always remain deep within my heart. Please give my thoughts and prayers to his family. Also please let me know if there is any memorial ceremony for him in Iran.
Latif Safari
Comment from Shirin Manouchehri and Firouz Jahani
Dear All,
With a great sorrow and sadness, we have heard about the death of our beloved professor Dr. Esmail Meisami on January 21, 2013. With the loss of Dr. Meisami we lose a gifted scientist, adviser and teacher, a friend and supporter who was always able to fascinate young scientists and provide nice inspiration to everyone he met. We never forget that he made his “Brain Chemistry” course very interesting for his students, and we learned so much from him during our education at the University of Tehran. He was one of a kind, and so passionate about what he taught, that’s for sure. It is really hard for all of us, and we certainly feel a big hole here. He will be greatly missed.
Shirin Manouchehri and Firouz Jahani
Comments from Emad Hoseiny Shokraii
I really don’t know how to express my grief and sadness for the passing of one our best friends and colleagues. During the past two weeks I had extended communications with him, and we had so much fun chatting and writing. I have a class to teach but don’t know how I can manage to focus on the subject!!
Esmail (Emad) Hoseiny Shokraii
Comments from Vali Kermani
To all caring and thoughtful scholars, Once again, I am totally sadden with deep grief from such an astonishing brief, in regard to Dr. Esmail Meisami’s sudden death. He was a kind, caring , thoughtful, and humble scientist with a high standard, who carried and left behind a vast amount of knowledge to be used by others. His performance was in accordance with a true human being.
Vali Kermani
Comments from Rouhi Safaei
I am grateful to Ellen and Ali for giving me a chance to see Essie on his visit to California and to tell him that he always inspired in me hope, joy, and love for life; he will always be in my heart.
Rouhi Safaei
Comments from Khashi Karimian
It is said that there are 7 stages of grief when one is faced with a loss of a person close to one’s heart, the first being shook and denial. For Essie’s friends, the first stage of grief will last a very, very, very long time because Essie was so full of life. Unbelievable and utterly sad,
Khashi Karimian
Comments from Farhad Shafa
Our dear Essie could be summed up by saying “he had a loving heart.” All his good qualities and the motivation for his remarkable contributions sprang from his spontaneous, unselfconscious and ever flowing love. He abides in the hearts of those he touched with his love
Farhad Shafa
Comments from Khashayar Javaherian
It is so sad! His sweetness and innocence will be always remembered. He was a devoted scholar and appreciated interactions with scientists at all levels. Always helpful to people around him. Unfortunately, life was not fair to him and he went through major hardships. I will never forget his constant struggle to overcome the obstacles facing him in his family life and his own health issues. It is difficult to believe that he is gone!
Khashayar Javaherian
Sad News: Beautiful poem written by a former student Navzer D. Sachinvala
I feel very sad today, my teacher Professor Esmail Meisami passed away;
He created possibilities in my mind I find impossible to weigh.
Meisami with the D’Javadis admitted me to U. Tehran in 1977;
At that time I truly felt, I was in academic heaven;
They formed my hunger and skills like master-bakers of lavash un-leaven.
At IBB, they sent me to Kashi, Iraj, and Vali to learn immunology and biochemistry.
So I would never feel doubt with abstruseness, and never descend to compromising with in-confident sullenness.
The revolution, then consumed Iran, and scattered academics as animals chased from a barn;
Our hopes, dreams, and homes were left behind;
We stretched and re-connected like strained ropes, and said “never mind.”
Each found her/his way to begin again;
Tenacity, acumen, luck, and efforts delivered no vain.
When challenges were surmounted, each was perched on her/his mountain;
Like Essie, each learned to be resourceful — an unending fountain.
In Iran, Essie and Vali had advised me about my immune deficiency and reactions to stress;
With advisement, they gave me literature to learn and cope when I was struck with M.S.
Later Essie taught me by example, to write and send books to the press;
My words don’t convey my thanks for his humanity and largess.
My friend passed away, January 21, twenty thirteen, and I mourn his loss;
He was as tenacious as arctic moss;
Etched in my mind, are his smile, skills, humanity, and that profile of Nicholas Clause.
Comments from Nasrin Haamedi
From the first day I met Dr. Meisami, he had a great influence on me. A person whose encouragement and advice would shape not only my career but also my life.
He was not just a great academic but also a great man.
I am honoured to have had him as my professor, my mentor and my friend.
My condolences to his dear family and all who knew him. He will forever be in my heart and eternally present in my mind.
Nasrin Haamedi
Illinois Memorial Sevices
click here to download the memorial booklet
Dear Friends I have returned from the services in Illinois and it was heartwarming and heartbreaking. More words and images about this service to come soon. Here is the memorial booklet prepared with great affection by Salman Hakimzadeh
Comments from Homa and Pezechk Mostachfi
To the dear Meisami family and friends.
It is with great sorrow that we receive the news of Dr. Meisami’s passing, one of the best Iranian scientists, a very good man, and a great professor.
We send our deepest condolences to you all.
We wish you strength in this difficult time.
Homa, Pezechk Mostachfi
Comments from Farrokh Modabber
What happened ? I can’t believe it – in our exchange of New Year greetings we planned to get together in California soon. It is so sad – I sympathize and feel every word you and his students say about him.
We will miss him dearly,
How sad!
Farrokh Modabber
Comments from Youssef Hatefi
I remember Dr. Meisami as a very pleasant and kind gentleman, and that he was very effective in helping with the arrangements for the 1975 IBB symposium in Tehran. I was also pleased to learn that he organized another IBB-sponsored international symposium in his field of interest.
I very much regret his passing , and I thank you for giving me the sad news.
Youssef Hatefi
Comments from Mahin Barati
.از دریافت خبر تاسف بار درگذشت استاد عزیز اقای دکتر اسماعیل میثمی بسیارغمگین شدم. این شانس را داشتم که سال گذشته ایشان را در تهران ملاقات کنم.چهره ی شاد و چشمان خندان ایشان را در این دیدار هرگز از یاد نخواهم برد
مهین براتی
Comments from Shahin Ahmadian
It was hard to all of us to hear such a sad news of the passing of our great old colleague, Dr. Meisami.
My condolences to you and his family.
Shahin Ahmadian
Comments from Mahtash Moussavi
It is indeed hard to believe Dr. Esmail Meisami is no longer with us. I have known Essie since 1971, when he joined the University of Tehran as new faculty of the biology department. We all were very excited to begin our graduate program and could not wait meeting the newly hired, UC-Berkley educated professor who would be teaching “Advanced Brain Chemistry class. I still remember Essie’s happy face, big smile, and most importantly eager educating us in a totally new ways, unlike the ones we were accustomed—what an awesome memorable day and we all were very, very happy to be his student.
I feel fortunate to have known Dr. Meisami for over 41 years, first as a graduate student at the University of Tehran, then as a colleague at IBB, and later as a dearest friend and mentor at UC-Barkley. His matchless passion for teaching, giving heart, unconditional caring for his family and friends, and comforting smile would always be remembered. My sincere condolences to all, his loved ones, extended family, friends and students. I am still in shock and cannot imagine he is gone – I will sorely miss him.
Mahtash Moussavi
Comments from Tahereh Rahmani
Dear Mona,
With a heavy heart and great sorrow I am sending my deepest condolences to you and all your family and anyone who was lucky to have known your Dad. I have known your dad since he started working in Tehran. Your Dad and the rest of the young generation coming to our department were a breath of fresh air, bringing their knowledge , enthusiasm, energy , and vitality which was really inspiring. I collaborated with your Dad and my relation with him and your mother went well beyond being colleagues, to a friendship that lasted for ever. Later I met him in London and he introduced me to renown English physiologist Dr Richter. I also met him in USA , and although we were not in close contact lately, I heard about him trough friends .
I am so sorry I could not joint you to pay my last respect to your Dad. I am currently recovering from surgery to remove a benign brain tumor, and cannot travel for the time being.
You had a wonderful Dad with a big heart, full of kindness. His passing is a big loss for all of us.
May God bless his soul, protect you and your family and help you to heal soon.
My best wishes and regards,
Tahereh Rahmani
Comments from Mahmoud Ghaffari
زدو دیده خون فشانم ز غمت شب جدائی
چه کنم که هست اینها گل باغ آشنائی
.خبر تاثر انگیزی بود
دکتر میثمی در گذرگاه زندگی فردی پویا و عاشق بود و انصافا خوب جنگید. لبخند های او هیچگاه از خاطرم نمی رود. اقبال یارم بود که سال گذشته وصل دیداری با ایشان و همسر گرامیشان (نوشین) داشتم که دوام دیدار هنوز در چشم مغزم ماندگار است.
یادش گرامی باد : محمود غفاری
IBB
Comments from Mahmood and Anahita Shoeibi
خبر…کوتاه اما تاسف بار بود..در چند ماه اخیر دو استاد بزرگ مارا ترک کرده و به سفر جاودانگی رفتند.دکتر ملکزاده و دکتر میثمی ..وهردو درغربت وحسرت آرمیدن در وطن….
شاید شانس بزرگ من بود که توانستم دکتر میثمی دوست داشتنی را پس از سی سال و تنها چند ماه پیش از رفتنش ببینم و این اقبال را از از علی
و الن عزیز دارم. من و اناهیتا در غم بازماندگان دکتر میثمی شریک هستیم و برایشان طول عمر و روزهای خوش طلب میکنیم
.محمود و آناهیتا شعیبی
