EHSAN YARSHATER

YARSHATER--Prof. Ehsan.

Distinguished scholar of Persian language and literature and the founder of Encyclopaedia Iranica dies at 98. Born in 1920 in Hamedan, Iran, Prof. Yarshater received a Ph.D. in Persian language and literature from the University of Tehran in 1947. He then moved to England where he pursued his studies with W. B. Henning at London University and received an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Old and Middle Iranian in 1960. In 1958, Prof. Yarshater was invited to join Columbia University as Visiting Associate Professor of Indo-Iranian, and two years later was appointed to the Kevorkian Chair of Iranian Studies. He established the Center for Iranian Studies (now The Ehsan Yarshater Center for Iranian Studies) at that university in 1968 and served as its Director until his retirement in 2016. Prof. Yarshater founded the Encyclopedia Iranica in 1973 and remained its Editor-in-Chief until his retirement. The encyclopedia is considered the most significant, extensive, and comprehensive scholarly work dedicated to the study of Iranian civilization in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. In 1990, he established the Encyclopedia Iranica Foundation to ensure the continuation of this monumental scholarly work and until recently served as its President. Prof. Yarshater also authored and served as editor of numerous other notable works. His books include "Persian Poetry in the Second Half of the 15th Century" (1953) and "Southern Tati Dialects" (1970). He edited the third volume of the "Cambridge History of Iran," in two parts, which covers the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian periods (1983, 1986), and "Persian Literature" (1988). He was also the General Editor of the 40-volume "The History of al-Tabari," and the Founding Editor of the Persian Text Series, the Persian Heritage Series, and the Persian Studies Series. Lecture series in his name have been established at Harvard University, the University of London, and the University of California at Los Angeles. Prof. Yarshater was married to Latifeh Alvieh, who was an advisor at the Cultural Bureau of the United States Embassy in Tehran prior to moving to the U.S. She passed away in 1999. The couple had no children. Prof. Yarshater died on September 2, 2018, in Fresno, CA. He is survived by his loving niece, Ms. Mojdeh Yarshater, and her husband, Mr. Tony Jebian. He will be remembered for his strength of character, unwavering dedication, and immeasurable contributions to the study of the Iranian culture and civilization. The Encyclopedia Iranica Foundation honors his life and his enduring legacy. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, September 12th at 9:30am, at Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Avenue, New York City.