Dr. Javad Vakil-Zadeh

Dr. Javad Vakil-Zadeh, “Dr. V.”, passed away on Thursday, August 26, 2010 peacefully in his Chapel Hill home under the loving care of his family after five years of declining health due to a brain injury.
Born June 26, 1927 in Isfahan, Iran to the late Mahmood and Khanoom Agha Vakil-Zadeh, and lived in Iran until age 29.
He received his Doctorate (D.V.M.) from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tehran in 1952, and went to work the with International Cooperation Administration (USAID) as an Epidemiologist in Iran. In August 1957 Javad came to the United States as a special student in Epidemiology and Microbiology at the University of Pittsburg. Javad moved to Chapel Hill in 1958 and received his Master of public health (M.P.H.) from the University of North Carolina in 1959. He was a research scientist for the North Carolina Sanatorium System and ended as an acting director. From 1968-1972 he was a faculty member, as a teacher and researcher, at Duke University Medical Center. He was an epidemiologist and the medical area coordinator at the International Fertility Research Program (IFRP) at UNC from 1972-1978, with assigned countries including Australia, Canada, Iran, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, and the United States. He was a board certified veterinarian and fellow of the American Public Health Association. From 1959 to 1977, he had more than thirty publications.
Following a relatively long career in the health profession, Javad developed an interest in real estate. In 1978 he formed Vakil-Zadeh’s Investment & Management. From 1977-1997 he developed, financed, and managed many residential and commercial real estate projects throughout the Triangle area. The projects most close to his heart were Pars office building, Galleria shopping center, Squid’s property, and Mina’s Studio, which he developed for his beloved wife, Mina. Since 1998 until his health incident in 2005, his main focus was in commercial real estate as a broker-in-charge.
Javad loved to travel and had visited many countries. In June, 1968 he went to Iran for a family visit and he met the love of his life, Mina. He loved sports and in his youth he was involved in weightlifting and high diving. Later he enjoyed playing tennis and he was an avid swimmer all his life. Javad loved poetry, singing, and had a vast knowledge of classical music and traditional Persian music. Chapel Hill, UNC, and Tarheel basketball had a special place in his heart. He loved children and animals and could not tolerate any cruelty towards them. Javad was kind, gentle, generous, patient, cultured, humorous, and was a mentor and a father figure to many. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, and friend. He touched so many lives and leaves a tremendous void that will never be filled.
Javad is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Mina Rad Vakil-Zadeh of Chapel Hill; his sons, Payman Vakil-Zadeh of Florence, KY, Keyan Vakil-Zadeh of Chapel Hill; brothers, Mostafa Vakil-Zadeh of Hamburg, Germany, Morteza Vakil-Zadeh and wife, Fati of McLean, VA; sister, Batool Vakil-Zadeh of Iran; sister-in-law, Mahshid Rad Zahed and her daughter, Auria of Lincolnshire, IL; brother-in-law, Mehran Rad and his children, Cyrus, Kaveh & Jahon of Durham, NC; aunt, Shayesteh Azari and her son, Dr. Kodi Azari and his family of Santa Monica, CA; nieces, nephews and friends all over the world.
The family wishes to thank friends, specially Dr.& Mrs. Khosrow Bahrani, aide Pastor Sibrian, nurse Michelle Williams of UNC home health, and the staff of UNC Hospice for their loving care and support.
Per Javad’s wishes, there will be a private burial of cremated remains in Chapel Hill Memorial cemetery. Also, the family will have a private ceremony to celebrate his life and his legacy.
His wife, Mina asks their extended family and friends to remember her wonderful husband on Monday, September 13, 2010 which marks their 42nd wedding anniversary.