High High . Service held for Dr. Jafar T. Hashemi
Dr. Jafar T. Hashemi, 81 passed away peacefully at home in Norman, Oklahoma on November 5, 2019. Jafar was born in Gonabad, Iran, December 20, 1937 to Ali & Zinat (Tafreshi) Hashemi. He attended the University of Tehran, from which he was awarded a scholarship to study abroad in England. He then moved to Oklahoma to study Physics at the University of Oklahoma. There, he earned his Masters and PhD in Physics while teaching as a graduate instructor. On March 25, 1967, Jafar married his college sweetheart, Jacqualin (Edwards), and together they shared over 52 years of marriage and memories with their beloved family. Jafar became a naturalized US Citizen in 1973.
After obtaining his PhD, Jafar started his career in education and engineering, teaching Physics and Mathematics. Jafar had a passion for teaching and cared for his college students. His teaching career began at St. Gregory’s College (1972), Shawnee, Oklahoma, followed by employment positions as an Engineer at Tinker Airforce Base (1974) and Boeing Aircraft (1983). He concluded his teaching career as a Physics and Engineering Professor at Cowley County Community College in Kansas, teaching at both the Arkansas City and Mulvane campuses (1999). Jafar concluded his career in 2011.
Jafar was an avid chess player who enjoyed mathematics, coaching little league soccer, gardening, travelling, his retirement property in Calvin, Oklahoma, and had a deep passion for classical music - but his greatest joy in life was his children and grandchildren. Jafar will be remembered by all who knew and loved him as a deep thinker, full of perseverance and conviction about his decisions, a strong provider, giver, and lover of his precious family. Jafar was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers; Mehdi and Hadi Hashemi.
Jafar leaves cherished memories with his wife, Jacqualin; his children, Mitra (spouse: Colin), Josef (spouse: Angelia), and Samuel (spouse: Amber); his grandchildren, Melody (spouse: Alexander), Mattias, Aria, Kai, Javon, Moriah, and Malachi. Jafar is survived by his siblings, Javad, Hamid, and Shahin Hashemi, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jafar was a man of strong determination who left his native land and immigrated to America, earned a PhD, and worked diligently to care for his family.
A memorial service for Jafar will be held at the First Church of God in Holdenville (624 E. Main Street), Friday, November 22, 2019 at 1:30 PM with burial to follow at Crossroads Cemetery in Calvin, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family is setting up a scholarship fund at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas. To donate, please search “Dr. Jafar Hashemi Memorial Scholarship Fund” on GoFundMe.com. Friends may leave condolences for the family at vondelsmithmortuary.com .