Morteza K. YAHYAVI

YAHYAVI, Morteza K. Aug. 10, 1918-Aug. 2, 2012 Morteza K. Yahyavi peacefully slipped into the Unknown on August 22012 at his home in Oceanside, California with his wife and daughter at his side. Mr. Yahyavi came to the U.S. in 1950 as the first Fulbright Scholar from Iran. He later was recruited by U.S.I.A. as a writer/broadcaster at the Voice of America in Washington, D.C. He originated the Persian/Dari Service in 1979 with a staff of four, growing it to 45, and was fluent in many languages including English, Farsi and French. As a young man, Mr. Yahyavi wrote novels, short stories, literary essays and articles in Farsi and translated the official Persian language version of Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. At one time he would have had articles under his byline in many Persian newspapers and journals on any given day. Mr. Yahyavi's interests included politics, nature, literature, international affairs, astronomy and reading, but at heart he was a gardener. When he retired in 1983 he could mostly be found tending the flowers in his garden until age intervened. He is survived by his wife Carol, daughter Roxanne Wightman and husband Doug, son Rene Eram and wife Linda, grandson Braden, and a large and loving extended family. Memorial Service to be announced.