Dr. Vahid Alavian, was born on August 11, 1950 and peacefully passed away on January 31, 2020, surrounded by loved ones and friends while participating in a meeting at the Chattanooga Bahá'í Center. In line with how he lived his life, he was active and engaged in community service until his final moments.
The eldest son of Bozurg and Azam Alavian, Vahid was inquisitive and studious in his native Iran. Vahid came to the United States at age 17 to study, and earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There he met his wife Barbara Miller, who also obtained a Ph.D. in civil engineering. This partnership launched more than 40 years of professional collaboration, meaningful service and a rich family life with their daughters.
During his more than 40-year professional career, Vahid came to be a foremost expert in civil engineering, leading numerous water and energy-related projects in the U.S. and developing countries. He served as a senior advisor at USAID and as the Global Water Advisor at the World Bank, providing strategic and technical oversight for World Bank water-related investments across the globe. Importantly, he led technical and diplomatic negotiations on the Jordan River between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority as part of advancing the region’s peace process. During his time at the Tennessee Valley Authority, he contributed to the agency’s pioneering work on sustainable water and energy management. He was named both TVA Engineer of the Year and Top 10 Federal Engineers in the U.S. in 1993. Vahid also held several university faculty positions and was a Fulbright Scholar.
Vahid’s true accolade is his spirit of humility and integrity, rooted in his dedication to the Bahá’í Faith, which teaches that work carried out in a spirit of service is akin to worship. In everything he did, Vahid demonstrated commitment to his faith’s principles of upholding unity in diversity, the equality of women and men, and pursuing excellence in all endeavors. Vahid served on numerous Bahá’í administrative bodies, and following his 2011 retirement, he spent three years providing strategic and advisory volunteer services at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. In 2015, he and Barbara retired to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Vahid and Barbara’s life and work took them to many places in the U.S., and across the globe. They raised two daughters who are both physicians engaged in public service. Together they mentored countless young people. Their home was always open to friends, and newcomers were welcomed as family.
Vahid is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dr. Barbara Miller, and his two daughters, Drs. Shereen and Naseem Alavian; his brothers Vedad and Vahdat; and numerous nieces, nephews and spiritual siblings and children. The family rejoices that after such a full earthly life, Vahid's soul is at peace.
A memorial service will be held at the The Westin Chattanooga at 4:00 PM on Friday, February 7th. Family will receive friends after the service.
North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist
The eldest son of Bozurg and Azam Alavian, Vahid was inquisitive and studious in his native Iran. Vahid came to the United States at age 17 to study, and earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There he met his wife Barbara Miller, who also obtained a Ph.D. in civil engineering. This partnership launched more than 40 years of professional collaboration, meaningful service and a rich family life with their daughters.
During his more than 40-year professional career, Vahid came to be a foremost expert in civil engineering, leading numerous water and energy-related projects in the U.S. and developing countries. He served as a senior advisor at USAID and as the Global Water Advisor at the World Bank, providing strategic and technical oversight for World Bank water-related investments across the globe. Importantly, he led technical and diplomatic negotiations on the Jordan River between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority as part of advancing the region’s peace process. During his time at the Tennessee Valley Authority, he contributed to the agency’s pioneering work on sustainable water and energy management. He was named both TVA Engineer of the Year and Top 10 Federal Engineers in the U.S. in 1993. Vahid also held several university faculty positions and was a Fulbright Scholar.
Vahid’s true accolade is his spirit of humility and integrity, rooted in his dedication to the Bahá’í Faith, which teaches that work carried out in a spirit of service is akin to worship. In everything he did, Vahid demonstrated commitment to his faith’s principles of upholding unity in diversity, the equality of women and men, and pursuing excellence in all endeavors. Vahid served on numerous Bahá’í administrative bodies, and following his 2011 retirement, he spent three years providing strategic and advisory volunteer services at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. In 2015, he and Barbara retired to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Vahid and Barbara’s life and work took them to many places in the U.S., and across the globe. They raised two daughters who are both physicians engaged in public service. Together they mentored countless young people. Their home was always open to friends, and newcomers were welcomed as family.
Vahid is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dr. Barbara Miller, and his two daughters, Drs. Shereen and Naseem Alavian; his brothers Vedad and Vahdat; and numerous nieces, nephews and spiritual siblings and children. The family rejoices that after such a full earthly life, Vahid's soul is at peace.
A memorial service will be held at the The Westin Chattanooga at 4:00 PM on Friday, February 7th. Family will receive friends after the service.
North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist
Dr. Vahid Alavian, was born on August 11, 1950 and peacefully passed away on January 31, 2020, surrounded by loved ones and friends while participating in a meeting at the Chattanooga Bahá'í Center. In line with how he lived his life, he was active and engaged in community service until his final moments.
The eldest son of Bozurg and Azam Alavian, Vahid was inquisitive and studious in his native Iran. Vahid came to the United States at age 17 to study, and earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There he met his wife Barbara Miller, who also obtained a Ph.D. in civil engineering. This partnership launched more than 40 years of professional collaboration, meaningful service and a rich family life with their daughters.
During his more than 40-year professional career, Vahid came to be a foremost expert in civil engineering, leading numerous water and energy-related projects in the U.S. and developing countries. He served as a senior advisor at USAID and as the Global Water Advisor at the World Bank, providing strategic and technical oversight for World Bank water-related investments across the globe. Importantly, he led technical and diplomatic negotiations on the Jordan River between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority as part of advancing the region’s peace process. During his time at the Tennessee Valley Authority, he contributed to the agency’s pioneering work on sustainable water and energy management. He was named both TVA Engineer of the Year and Top 10 Federal Engineers in the U.S. in 1993. Vahid also held several university faculty positions and was a Fulbright Scholar.
Vahid’s true accolade is his spirit of humility and integrity, rooted in his dedication to the Bahá’í Faith, which teaches that work carried out in a spirit of service is akin to worship. In everything he did, Vahid demonstrated commitment to his faith’s principles of upholding unity in diversity, the equality of women and men, and pursuing excellence in all endeavors. Vahid served on numerous Bahá’í administrative bodies, and following his 2011 retirement, he spent three years providing strategic and advisory volunteer services at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. In 2015, he and Barbara retired to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Vahid and Barbara’s life and work took them to many places in the U.S., and across the globe. They raised two daughters who are both physicians engaged in public service. Together they mentored countless young people. Their home was always open to friends, and newcomers were welcomed as family.
Vahid is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dr. Barbara Miller, and his two daughters, Drs. Shereen and Naseem Alavian; his brothers Vedad and Vahdat; and numerous nieces, nephews and spiritual siblings and children. The family rejoices that after such a full earthly life, Vahid's soul is at peace.
A memorial service will be held at the The Westin Chattanooga at 4:00 PM on Friday, February 7th. Family will receive friends after the service.
North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist
The eldest son of Bozurg and Azam Alavian, Vahid was inquisitive and studious in his native Iran. Vahid came to the United States at age 17 to study, and earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There he met his wife Barbara Miller, who also obtained a Ph.D. in civil engineering. This partnership launched more than 40 years of professional collaboration, meaningful service and a rich family life with their daughters.
During his more than 40-year professional career, Vahid came to be a foremost expert in civil engineering, leading numerous water and energy-related projects in the U.S. and developing countries. He served as a senior advisor at USAID and as the Global Water Advisor at the World Bank, providing strategic and technical oversight for World Bank water-related investments across the globe. Importantly, he led technical and diplomatic negotiations on the Jordan River between Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority as part of advancing the region’s peace process. During his time at the Tennessee Valley Authority, he contributed to the agency’s pioneering work on sustainable water and energy management. He was named both TVA Engineer of the Year and Top 10 Federal Engineers in the U.S. in 1993. Vahid also held several university faculty positions and was a Fulbright Scholar.
Vahid’s true accolade is his spirit of humility and integrity, rooted in his dedication to the Bahá’í Faith, which teaches that work carried out in a spirit of service is akin to worship. In everything he did, Vahid demonstrated commitment to his faith’s principles of upholding unity in diversity, the equality of women and men, and pursuing excellence in all endeavors. Vahid served on numerous Bahá’í administrative bodies, and following his 2011 retirement, he spent three years providing strategic and advisory volunteer services at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. In 2015, he and Barbara retired to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Vahid and Barbara’s life and work took them to many places in the U.S., and across the globe. They raised two daughters who are both physicians engaged in public service. Together they mentored countless young people. Their home was always open to friends, and newcomers were welcomed as family.
Vahid is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dr. Barbara Miller, and his two daughters, Drs. Shereen and Naseem Alavian; his brothers Vedad and Vahdat; and numerous nieces, nephews and spiritual siblings and children. The family rejoices that after such a full earthly life, Vahid's soul is at peace.
A memorial service will be held at the The Westin Chattanooga at 4:00 PM on Friday, February 7th. Family will receive friends after the service.
North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist
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