Ervad Soli P. Dastur: In Memorarium

While his final prayers and ceremonies are being worked out, we invite you to attend a short interim prayer on ZOOM at the following times.

The ZOOM Link for all the prayers shall remain the same.

Sunday May 30, 2021

4:30 pm (EDT)   : Uthamna

9:00 pm (EDT)   :  Srosh nu Patru / Srosh no Kardo

                              (Hosted by Zoroastrian Association of Houston)

Monday May 31, 2021

4:30 am (EDT)  : Early Morning (Ushahin Geh) Uthamna

9.00 am (EDT)  :  Cheharum Prayers

                             (Hosted by Zoroastrian Association of California-LA)

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99417155114?pwd=WFUrb0VkZS9pOGRlTFNLeC9YeGdhdz09

Meeting ID: 994 1715 5114
Passcode: PRAYER


In the passing away of Ervad Soli P. Dastur, the North American Zarathushti community has lost one of it’s leading lights. Soli Uncle, as he was fondly called has left a huge legacy and touched the lives of thousands he came in contact with.

On the request of the Dastur Family donations collected shall be used for the upliftment of Mobeds in Udvada and their housing and health and wellbeing needs.

Garothman Behest to Soli Uncle’s ruvan, and oGarothman Behest to Soli Uncle’s ruvan, and our condolences to JoAnn Aunty, his daughters Shirin & Anahita, his sons-in-law Marvin & Jimbo, his grandchildren Cristina (and Trey Cain), Allison, Taj, Zain & Nev, his siblings, nephews and nieces and the entire Dastur family in India.

As the youngest of 11 children Soli was in born in Tarapur, a small village, , to a priestly family from Udvada. he joined the M. F. Cama Athornan Institute, where he completed all the requirements for becoming Navar, Martab and Saamel and was initiated as a full-fledged Mobed in the Udvada Iranshah Atash Behram.

On completing his B. Chem. Eng. from the Bombay University, and M. S. and Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering from the Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Soli joined the Procter & Gamble Co. in Cincinnati in 1964 and after retiring in 1994, he worked as a partner in the Partnering Group for 5 years.

An active member of the North American Mobed Council (NAMC) Soli has been performing Mobed duties all over Florida and North America wherever requested. In 2009 he started and continued for 8 years the first ever annual all Florida Muktad Gatha prayers in Miami, has conducted Religious classes  in Tampa, Orlando and Miami started a teleconferencing ZRC and conducted 17  Tele Classes. Soli has published 395 Weekly Zoroastrian Scripture Extracts (WZSE) with translation and audio recitations, distributed to over 900 people. He has contributed articles in WZO Hamazor and FEZANA  Journals.

He was awarded the Outstanding Zarathushti Award by FEZANA in 2010 at North American Zoroastrian Congress, Houston, and the  Distinguished Scholar Award in 2018 from NAMC at AGM in Washington DC and the Ervad Darab B. Unwalla Award for 25 years of dedicated service to ZAFat  the 25th anniversary  of ZAF.in 2019 

Soli retired and lived in Bradenton, Florida with his wife Jo Ann of 54 years. They have twin daughters, Shirin and Anahita and five grandchildren. Soli was an avid tennis player and dabbled with the computer in his free time.

FEZANA represents a diverse and growing Zarathushti community in North America.

Guided by the blessings of AHURA MAZDA and the teachings of our Prophet Zarathushtra; the Federation was founded in 1987 It serves as the coordinating body for 26 Zoroastrian Associations and 14 Corresponding Groups in the United States and Canada.

The activities of FEZANA are conducted in a spirit of mutual respect, co-operation and unity amongst all Member associations, and with due regard for the principles of GOODNESS, TRUTH, REASON, BENEVOLENCE, IMPLICIT TRUST and CHARITY towards all Mankind.

:+: Baname Khoda Kshnothro Ahura Mazda