Zalmai Shalizi

ZALMAI SHALIZI Zalmai Shalizi, 61, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home in Santa Fe on Sunday, June 7th. Zalmai came to Santa Fe from Afghanistan via Moscow in the mid-seventies. He was a fixture for years at the old Steaksmith downtown, and El Nido in Tesuque, before moving to the Mora area in the late eighties to run a ranch there. Life on horseback in northern New Mexico suited him well, and he was rarely without his cowboy hat after that. When he moved back to Santa Fe, he continued his commitment to the land by running a landscape gardening business, and working at Newman's Nursery on Cerrillos Road. Those are the facts, but they say very little about the real Zalmai. The part of the picture that they fail to paint is the heart and spirit of a wonderful human being. Of a person who would give you a full day's work, a job well done, and a smile. He never called in sick, he never complained, he never gave less than he could. Always respectful and courteous. He was a person who lived by his own code, and those who respected it were the beneficiaries--he'd give you the shirt off his back even if he didn't have one. He had his Fords (from his wilder days racing Mustangs to his wiser days driving F-150s), his Dogs (exemplary all), his Dallas Cowboys, his Garden and Pond, his Cooking, his Horse-packing, and his Books (all manners of exciting fiction). Quite a versatile handyman, he took up auto mechanics in New Mexico with his racing buddies. They noticed that he was a quick study, and welcomed him into a family he called "The Bros." Those Gentlemen certainly understand the concept of "A Friend in Need,"and Zalmai was always an active participant when he knew someone needed help. He had the most wonderful way of telling a colorful story whether it was real or a slightly tall tale. His conceptual understanding allowed him to explain the "Why?" and make sense of it to those of us who don't know how things work. When it came time to tell jokes, another of his skills, or listen to them, his laugh was one of the heartiest. He really loved to laugh. And he had that smile that made you feel like you were good company. Beneath the mask of the Warrior resided a gentle loving soul. He was a Friend and a Bro and a Son and an Uncle and a Brother. We will miss him dearly, but we will not forget him. The extended Shalizi Family would like to thank you all for your kind thoughts and support. In lieu of flowers, any contribution to a positive cause would be a wonderful gesture. Zalmai was especially committed to the preservation of animals and the beauty of nature.