(2010 update: It's been 10 years. Some advice I received in 2000 has proven itself absolutely true -- you never "get over" the death of a loved one, you just learn to live with it. --FV)

Vahid Aminian died on July 9, 2000, at the age of 37, in his home in Glendale, AZ. Vahid was an active member of the Glendale Baha'i community, a civil engineer with Entranco in Phoenix, a sibling to four brothers and a sister, and effectively the sixth member of the family of Frank and Amy Vahid and their three children. Vahid lived simply, a model of detachment from material things, once explaining that "I'm not trying to impress anyone." He was a true and humble servant, working tirelessly and without the need for thanks on many activities, like the Big Brothers organization, numerous Baha'i events, and countless cases of helping individuals move something, paint something, setup something, fix something, or clean something. He focused extensively on children, recognizing their importance, talking to them with respect, listening to them with attention, and playing with them for hours upon hours. Vahid kept the kid inside himself alive, loving to play almost any sport or game, and loving even more to see others play too. Vahid would befriend anybody, and was so down to earth that everyone he met, even total strangers in far off countries, would warm up to him almost instantly. Vahid was sincerely concerned about the plight of other human beings, not only on a global level, of which he had astounding knowledge, but also on an individual level. He would often talk for long periods with individuals who were suffering, listening to their troubles and helping them feel better. Vahid will be missed dearly by his friends and family.

Eulogy given at funeral by Frank Vahid

Vahid, Eric, Kelsi and Maya at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C., September 1999.
Vahid and Family at the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, IL, August 1999.