Aliakbar Yazdi

Aliakbar (Ali) Rismanchi Yazdi passed away peacefully on January 31, 2023, surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his parents Khanoom Taj Aziz and Ali Rismanchi Yazdi, as well as his sisters Maheen, Ashraf, and Akram.  He is survived by his wife, Roya; daughters, Leila (Mohammad) Dolatabadi and Maryam (Demetri) Holmes; son, Zaki Yazdi (Colleen); brother, Reza; sister, Effat; grandchildren, Arman and Elli Dolatabadi, Ava and Helen Holmes, and Elliott and Alice Yazdi; and many adoring nieces and nephews.

Ali was born on August 9, 1947 in Arak, Iran. He later attended Tabriz University in Iran before immigrating to the United States to earn his doctorate in Physics at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He spent the majority of his career at Jefferson State Community College serving students both as a professor and associate dean. He cared deeply about his students and truly believed that each of them had limitless potential. An avid soccer player as a young man, Ali later became a master gardener, transforming his suburban backyard into an agricultural paradise. No man has ever enjoyed a spicy pepper as much as Ali (or had as much forehead sweat after).  It was impossible to escape a visit from him without accepting some sort of fruit, vegetable, or herb. He was deeply proud of being Persian and was well known in the Persian community in Birmingham for his generosity in helping those who were moving from Iran to the United States, as well as his efforts to teach Farsi to the next generation of Iranian-Americans. His generosity extended to helping strangers, friends, and family alike. His infectious laughter and kind heart will be missed by all who knew him.

A visitation will be held from 1-2pm on Friday, February 10, 2023 at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home with a graveside service to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Jefferson State Community College Scholarship Fund at https://www.jeffersonstate.edu/individual-donor/.