October 27, 1954 - August 13, 2020
Ali Dastmalchian lived his life with energy, passion and an unmeasurable amount of love. His friendships span decades, language barriers and time zones, and he always made time for everybody in his life. He was a great support and a loud cheerleader. He was an incredible cook, a thoughtful leader and a brilliant academic. He was also a perfect father to Kia and Nikisa and a magnificent husband to his true love, Ann.
It's difficult to put into words what this loss means to his family, friends and colleagues. We invite you to share your memories, stories and condolences on this page, as it would bring his family joy and comfort to hear from those who loved Ali.
We will get together later, when it's safe, in person to celebrate Ali's life the way he would have wanted us to.
Comments
We are devastated to lose the friendship of this man who was dedicated to the study of different cultures and to bringing diverse communities together to make this a better world.
Ali’s passing is a huge loss for our entire community; we will miss him profoundly.
He was a gifted and special man.
Our deepest condolences on the very sad loss of a wonderful human being.
Hamid Eshghi, Vahid Eshghi, Margaret Thomson & everyone at the Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation
A great leader I will miss.
I was a new grad and working on my first paper. Ali was happy to review it for me. Ann returned it to me with hesitation as it looked like a red pen exploded all over my paper. Ali spared no effort in helping me learn how not to write a paper . However, with his guidance, I did get published.
Ali was a brilliant academic, a loving husband and father, and a friend to anyone who had the privilege of meeting him.
Ali, you will be missed dearly.
With love and deepest sympathy to Ann, Kia, and Nikisa,
Donna & Graeme
Deepest condolence to Ann and the family.
We will all remember Ali and what he has done for all of us. R.I.P.
My memories of Ali will be of a great Dean who collaboratively developed a new vision and instilled purpose and momentum for his Faculty. He was a gracious man who could lead the way to the best restaurants in Delhi despite the lack of signage and traffic chaos. I wish I could have spent more time in his presence, especially after reading all of the tributes and understanding the impact he had on so many people. He will be greatly missed.
I first met Ali in 2016 when we did a walkabout of the Vancouver campus when he was a candidate for the Dean's position. His modesty, ideas and humour (and our shared interest in English Premier League soccer) made him stand out. Ali brought vision, energy and humanity to his role at Beedie. I work regularly with Beedie faculty and staff based at the Segal building downtown and the respect, admiration and fondness they have for Ali is palpable. Ali was the quintessential leader because it was never about him, but always about those he served. Ali's quiet, self-effacing disposition belied a visionary, inspired and focused leadership. Ali truly did "build a better Beedie."
It was an honour and privilege to know Ali Dastmalchian. His contribution and legacy live on....
Like the time he happily presented Laura with a substitute diploma wearing his Dean regalia then worked a small crowd making sure everyone was having a good time. Then sharing my annoyance when everyone wouldn't eat together. I thought that night of how rare it is to get to eat with a group of young adults together with their parents to eat together. I never imagined it would be the last time we would all sit and share stories together.
Ann, Kia and Nikisa, I cannot imagine what this loss feels like, but the enormity is easy to sense. I hope you feel the love of this community for you as you move forward to one day smile and laugh again. My deepest condolences and most heartfelt wish that you feel Ali's presence every day.
We remember him for his warmth, generosity, curiosity and endless energy.
He was an inspiration to those he worked alongside; an adoring husband, devoted father, supportive to his wider family and a great friend.
Ali made everyone around him feel special; he will always have a special place in our hearts.
With love and deepest condolences to Ann, Kia and Nikisa.
Pauline and Gerard
I remember Ali for his clear and sound judgement, his strong commitment to academic values and his profound engagement and curiosity. A good friend who always was open for a stimulating conversation.
We came to Beedie around the same time, and where I was working before I had been junior faculty and never too involved in the operations of the place. You invited me into the “room,” encouraged me to serve on your reform committee, made my contributions feel valuable, and gave me advice and support along the way.
You were always warm and generous, with your focus and your time. I appreciated how you listened more than talked, and worked hard more than dictated. You modeled thoughtful, inclusive leadership, bringing people together and balancing their views while charting out a path forward. You left Beedie a stronger, kinder, more engaged place. You made me comfortable at Beedie, like you did with so many others.
I remember when we were recruiting PhD students this spring, you even made an RA offer to the spouse of one of our admitted students to help recruit them. I can’t imagine another leader getting so personally involved to make the School a better place. It reveals your dedication: to excellence, to people, to place.
Thank you for everything you taught me. I’m devastated that you were fighting cancer this summer while I pictured you enjoying a much-deserved break from dean duties. My sincerest condolences to Ann, Kia, and Nikisa for your loss.
His support, respect and love were precious to me and I cannot imagine a future without him. No major choice made was quite right without a consultation with him. He knew me so well and knew the questions I needed to ask myself to make sure I considered the best course.
He was always there when you really needed him, as busy as he could be, which gave me a sense of never being entirely alone.
I know I won't get to hear his laughter or his words next time I need them with my ears, but I know I still will. Memories if him will be with me forever.
I struggle, I cry, I feel regret. I feel robbed. I feel blessed.
Ali's death is so difficult to deal with because he offers so much to learn from and to emulate - his vision, drive, empathy, caring, support, leadership, vision, persistence, to name a few. I feel honoured just to have been in his presence and I feel unworthy of his unwavering confidence and support. But alas, I've found that time and again, Ali knows our potential better than we can judge it ourselves. And for that (among many other qualities), I am eternally grateful. I just wish I had more time to learn from him though his example will forever live on...
A famous proverb says, "Tell me who you walk with and I will tell you who you are". As the many posts here from far and wide only begin to show, Ali walked with all of us and will continue to walk with all of us and us with him. Ali could relate to anyone, inspire anyone and connect with everyone in a personal and meaningful way - an amazing feat for one as busy and driven as Ali. He made me feel special, important, critical in way that made me want to not let him down. He was a one-of-a-kind person not to be replicated but forever emulated.
Thank you Ali and for everything and everyone you touched.
With love and gratitude,
Natasha and family
Ali’s death came as such a shock to those of us who had pictured him relaxing and regenerating (and perhaps catching up on research) between 5 year terms as Dean. It’s taken me this long to process that he’s no longer with us. I am very grateful for his mentor ship and support these past 5 years. Reflecting on our many interactions, looking back on email correspondence, reading these tributes through tears, and hearing the memories of my colleagues, I appreciate even more how kind and generous and genuine he was. And how many lives he touched. We feel his presence in the very culture of SFU Beedie, and elements of his organizational and leadership legacy will continue to make positive impact for decades to come through the many faculty and staff he mentored.
To Ann, Kia, and Nikisa - my deepest condolences on your heartbreaking loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
He was a very special man.
As I sit here crying, I think of the early days at the UofS, eloquently captured by Colin Boyd (above). My first recollection is Ali as a young Assistant Prof who was a big football (soccer) fan. He was wrangled into supporting a new project by David Boag: an Msc in Tech Mgmt. I was one of the first two students. In that small program, we all got to know each other and I remember the day Kia was born. He was so over the moon. And amazed by Ann. The same again when Niki was born.
When he moved to UofA, Ali had time for me, providing advice and guidance on doing a PhD. Always thoughtful, quietly funny and 'just there' for support.
Over the years we have kept in touch and I was lucky enough to be at UVic for his retirement party. It was extraordinary. SO MANY faculty and staff to support him in his decision to step down. That's a remarkable situation for a Dean to be in, but I was not surprised. I always wanted him as a Dean. And I had the chance. I'm so sorry it never worked out.
Anne, Niki and Kia - I am struggling to find the words. I am thinking of you and especially, your lovely Ali.
Ali was a great mentor who patiently listens, motivates, inspires and unites his mentees by his wisdom and humble leadership. I first met Ali during my PhD studies at Bogazici University, and honored to have worked with him since then for many years on his research projects. He had an overwhelming impact not only on the way I approach research, but also on how to value my academic career as a way to contribute to the community.
Beyond all his virtues, first and foremost Ali was a kind, loving and caring person who was always there for you as one of your family. Ali and Ann shared the most important facets of my life; my birth to my twins, the first birthday party of Ela and Can, the hard times when I struggled with my son’s speech therapy, and at so many other times they were there as a loving uncle and aunty.
Dear Professor Ali: You are a special soul who has touched our hearts beyond our lives. We are all grateful to you for giving us a place in your beautiful heart. You are in our lives, and you will always be. Hope to come together one day….
Gaye Karacay (from Istanbul / Turkey).
Over the past few years, I feel very honoured to have learned from and worked alongside Ali. Whether it was B3 or his Ali’s updates, there was always something special about the way he did things. Every year, Ali and I would be working on set of 50+ letters to faculty. Of which, he told me in his first year, he could write all of them if he didn’t sleep for 1.5 days. Thankfully, that did not happen. All jokes aside, you can see Ali’s thoughtful comments and encouragement towards his colleagues in every letter he wrote.
To Ann and his family, my sincerest condolences for your loss.
Ali, I will miss your Christmas Cards, hallway chats, your passion for cooking and your secret recipes.
I am so saddened with the news of the loss of your father and husband. My sincerest condolences to your family during this sorrowing time.
Ali was a tremendous person as you know better than any of us. First and foremost he was one of the most genuine and caring individuals I have ever had the privilege of knowing and working with. He was always warm and engaging, making time for our students, faculty, and staff. He always began any interaction with checking in with us first, always seeming to know what you were working on and offering encouragement. He personally made me feel welcomed, appreciated, and heard as a member on the B3 review team - a process through which I learned a great deal by having the opportunity to work with him. I truly appreciated his inspirational leadership and genuine drive to transform not only our organization but our people.
He also usually had a lighthearted story to share when you saw him in meetings or at events - such as at the CaseIt dinner when he shared how he and you, Ann, moved to Canada and went looking for a restaurant and thought Swiss Chalet would be a Swiss restaurant but to your surprise found it to be otherwise! - no matter the situation, he always made the best of things and showed you how it was possible to look on the bright side, reminding you to be hopeful.
I truly hope that your family can find some comfort during this difficult time in knowing the lasting impact Ali made and how much he will be missed.
With great sympathies,
Marissa
I apologize that it has taken me a few days to be able to write these lines. The devastating news about Ali’s passing has reached us fully unprepared. But can we ever be “prepared” for something that is so ravaging as the loss of a person like Ali? Words cannot express the sadness that I feel. Ali was such an exemplary and admirable person: warm, full of understanding, tolerant of different perspectives, never tiring when trying to achieve a goal, in short: a role model for the people who were privileged to know him in private and in professional life.
Memories of our encounters fill my mind: invitations at your home, your visit at our place, the liquor tasting at my brother’s and of course the professional conversations, when Ali was trying to reconcile diverging ideas and thereby contributed substantially towards giving birth to such wonderful things as the MGB program and many other fabulous projects. Ali was able to accomplish so many things and to bring out the good in the people who were working with him. For this reason, he will never be forgotten.
I realize that this is only a small consolation for you. At this point, there is very little except for the support of your children and your close family that can help you live with the deep grief and the emptiness that fills your heart. Nevertheless, it may be a solace at a later stage to know how much Ali was appreciated and loved by the people who knew him.
If life ever takes you to this part of the world again, please understand that you will always find a warm welcome at our home.
Please accept our deepest condolences for your and your family's loss.
Evelyne and Karl Glaser
I will keep Ali, his family, and friends in my prayers.
We are sad to lose our friend and extend our deepest sympathies to his family and his colleagues.