Darya Lin Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information

LOCATION

Chicago, Illinois

Stayed Behind to Help

Darya Lin was not easy to rattle. Growing up in Iran in the early 1980's near a border under heavy bombardment by Iraq, she nevertheless had a "very, very healthy childhood," said her mother, Nahid Mashayekhi Lin. "She never had any fear or any bad memories."

So it makes sense to her friends and family that on Sept. 11 Ms. Lin, a 32-year-old senior manager with Keane Consulting Group who was advising clients that day at AON, stayed on the 78th floor to help a pregnant client while others in her group ran downstairs to safety.

But Ms. Lin was also aware of her mortality. Over the summer, when she returned a pair of running shoes she had borrowed from her mother, one of them had a note with her name and personal information inside. "She said, `Yeah, mommy, because when people die, the first place they look is in their shoes.'"

Ms. Lin, whose father is Burmese, moved with her parents to Ann Arbor, Mich., when she was 11; as an adult she traveled in Europe and the United States, eventually settling in Chicago. She never returned to Iran, but kept up with the language and was considering a return visit with her mother. "She had very good handwriting in Persian and she used to write me in Persian," her mother said. "In her letters, she would thank us for everything we'd done."

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I am hoping to find Ms. Lins family. I am a columnist for the LA Times and not long ago, at a thrift store in Pasadena, I found a large oil portrait of her by Michigan artist Elahe Crockett. I was shocked to see a beautiful tribute in such a place and can only assume it was lost in a move or inadvertently given away. I bought it to keep it safe and very much want to return it to her family. Anyone who can help in this, please contact me at [email protected] .

patt morrison

January 03, 2025 | Other

We will always remember you, Darya - every day. But especially today.

Laura and Kevin Souers

September 11, 2023

I will never forget Darya. Today, I dedicated my run to Wrightson Peak to her memory. She was in my thoughts the entire 16 miles up and down. I miss her and her parents. Kamran Talattof, Tucson AZ

Kamran Talattof

September 11, 2022 | Tucson, AZ | Friend

I will never forget.

Mia

September 11, 2022 | Friend

I never met Darya because I was born in 2010 but her and my dad share a cousin and I've herd great things about her and I really wished I could meet her. She seems like a amazing person. I was in nyc for my birthday recently and I found her name at the memorial xoxo Darya love you forever! -Ava

Ava Yazdianpour

April 04, 2022 | Anaheim, CA | Family

Thought of you all day on the 20th anniversary. You are not forgotten.

T B

September 12, 2021 | Chicago, IL | Friend

I remember Darya vividly when she and her family lived in Shiraz Iran in 1974/1975
She was a beautiful bright girl about 5/6 years old.
Few years later when our daughter was born in 1981 we named he Darya in her memory.
Our Hearts and Souls are with her family. We always cherish her great talents and kindness.

Homayoun Safavian

September 11, 2021 | Waterloo, ON | Family

Remembering Darya's vivacious spirit. Her memory lives on in all who knew and loved her.

Lianna Wong

September 13, 2020

Never forgotten

Tina

September 11, 2020 | Chicago, IL

Darya Lin

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