Town that never knew her mourns beating victim

February 07-2014

A surprising crowd of 150 people turned out in Michigan last week for a memorial service for an Iranian woman none of them had even heard of before she was beaten to death in December.

The remembrance for Sanaz Nezami was held at Michigan Technological University. Nezami had been admitted to MTU as a graduate student for the spring semester and had not yet started classes when she died December 12 at Marquette General Hospital from head injuries sustained four days before.

Her husband of several weeks, Nima Nassiri, is in the Houghton County Jail, charged with second-degree murder.

Sara Alian, president of Iranian Community at Michigan Tech, said as an Iranian graduate student, she could relate to Nezami.

“While no member of the Iranian community at Michigan Tech had yet met Sanaz, we immediately felt as if she was also a member of our small community ever since the sad news was shared with us,” Alian said.

STRANGERS — About 150 people in Houghton, Michigan, who had never met Sanaz Nezami and didn’t know who she was until she died in their midst came out last week to mourn her passing and celebrate her brief life.

Alian read a message from Nezami’s sister, Sara, written for the memorial. “It was her goal to become a knowledgeable person in order to serve God by helping others,” Sara wrote.

In addition to her studies, Nezami helped physically and mentally challenged people as well as the poor and needy. She also enjoyed reading religious texts, her sister said.

Nezami’s organs were transplanted into seven other people, including a child who received her heart. Because of the mass transplantation authorized by her family in Iran, Nezami’s story got national coverage in the United States.

In the message, Nezami’s sister said she hoped the recipients would recover, and get in touch with the family to let it know how they are doing. “To save a life is amazing, and to save several lives is a time to celebrate,” she said.

Speakers talked about Nezami’s life and the ones she gave to others, but also on the alleged circumstances of her death from domestic violence.

The memorial closed with Muslim, Christian and Baha’i prayers by electrical engineering professor Saeid Nooshabadi, Laleh Vahdat and Amika Nooshabadi. Many stayed around for a brief social with Iranian desserts such as rice pudding and wheat halva.