Dr. Nasser Sharify (1925-2013) |
On Sunday November 3rd, 2013, The Iranian American Society of New York will have a luncheon to remember and celebrate the life and accomplishments of late Dr. Nasser Sharify at the Marriot Hotel in Long Island. Navid Kandelousi, an outstanding Iranian musician will join us at this event to honor late Dr. Nasser Sharify.
Dr. Nasser Sharify, an educator, writer, philosopher, and poet, was born in Tehran, Iran September 23rd, 1925. While attending Tehran University, his poetry and literary articles appeared in magazines, his song lyrics were performed by famous artists for radio, film, social parties and night clubs. Soon after his graduation from college in 1947, he joined the staff of All India Radio in New Delhi, as an announcer and as poet in residence. He read poetry on the air, mostly his own, for Persian-speaking countries. When Gandhi was assassinated, Sharify announced the assassination and participated in a radio play about Ghandi. He then returned to Tehran to write and publish more literary essays, poetry, and political articles. |
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At the age of 25, Nasser Sharify wrote a film script titled "Morad" which was produced in Iran. With the sale of his script he was able to travel to the United States as a student and begin a new chapter in his life. He received his Masters and Doctoral degrees from Columbia University and entered the profession of Library and Information Science. He joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh, later worked at the State University of New York , and then joined Pratt Institute as its dean in 1968. He retired in 1987 as Dean Emeritus and Distinguished Professor, and continued teaching at Pratt off for the next 25 years until his mid-80's. In 1988, Pratt Institute established the Nasser Sharify Lecture Series, which was created to honor Dean Sharify's 40 years of contributions to library and information science. Sharify was honored with the American Library Association Award in 1999, the Kaula Gold Medal in 1985-which is given annually to only one international leader or scholar in the world-and The Shah's Crown Medal in 1977.
At the time of his death, Sharify had just published A Homeful Sound, his second volume of poetry in English that was also translated into French. The title poem was written for and presented to the Shah of Iran in 1954 and then broadcast by Tehran radio. His love of poetry began in his youth. "I used to create a musical harmony of words as I walked every day to my school in Tehran. I was in love with the sound of words, and the connections to the thoughts that lived in them."
Sharify, who is considered the father of International Librarianship, died peacefully August 23rd, 2013, with his daughter Cherie and son-in-law Rick at his side. He is survived by his children Sharareh Cherie Goldsmith and Shahab John Sharify, and his four grandchildren Tanya Goldsmith, Michelle Goldsmith Spatz, Jade Sharify, and Perry Sharify. |
Return to the main Nasser Sharify Foundation page.
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E-mail: info@iasnewyork.org |
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