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Ali Sabeti

1940 - 2019

Ali Sabeti obituary, 1940-2019, Durango, CO

BORN

1940

DIED

2019

FUNERAL HOME

Hood Mortuary - Durango

1261 East 3rd Avenue

Durango, Colorado

Ali Sabeti Obituary

Ali Sabeti left this world on April 17th, 2019 at the age of 78 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease and dementia.

He was born on September 28th, 1940 at the Swedish Embassy in Teheran, Iran. In 1960 Ali landed in Chicago, Illinois with $75 in his pocket and knowing only three words of English: please, coffee, thank you. Once here he truly lived the American dream. He began his journey loading baggage for the Illinois Central Railroad. Ten years later he was working in the railroad's Executive Office and had earned a BS and an MBA along the way.

In 1970 he married Marcia Ginn in Park Ridge, Illinois. Shortly after that Ali relocated to Fairfax, Virginia with Marcia and their first child, a son named Alex, and started his 23-year career at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. A few years later their daughter, Mitra, completed the family. His time with the World Bank afforded Ali and his family wonderful travel experiences all over the world, including a three-year posting in Jakarta, Indonesia. Ali retired from the World Bank as a Division Chief and Senior Advisor in 1996 after working in Mexico, Columbia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Korea, and Indonesia.

Ali and Marcia moved to Durango, CO in 1998 and Ali soon started to apply his skillset to many of the volunteer organizations in town, which he enjoyed immensely. He first joined, as an original member, the Professional Associates of Fort Lewis and served as President at one point. He served as President of the council for Volunteers of America and was on the board of Mountain Studies Institute. He taught International Business at Fort Lewis College for two semesters. He mentored entrepreneurs for The Small Business Development Center. He was also instrumental in helping the San Juan Symphony, Volunteers of America, and Mountain Studies Institute qualify for Enterprise Zone designations as a fund-raising inducement for them.

One of the greatest joys of Ali's life was the birth of his grandson, Huck Alexander Jay on January 13th, 2012. Huck's first word was "Baba", the Persian word for grandpa. Huck and Baba bonded from the beginning with many of their similar characteristics being uncanny.

Ali was the first to admit he had led a charmed life filled with rich, rewarding experiences, and countless good friends. He was devoted to both his nuclear family and family of origin. When asked recently what he would like to be remembered for he answered simply, "For helping people."

Ali is survived by his wife, Marcia, two children, Alex Sabeti of Los Angeles and Mitra Jay of Thailand, and, of course, his beloved grandson, Huck Jay. Also a brother, Asghar Sabeti of Tehran, Iran, and three sisters, Gity Sabeti of Tehran, Iran, Mali Alwood of San Luis Obispo, CA, and Maryam Mostowfi of West Dundee, IL.

A memorial service will be announced in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations would be most appreciated: Volunteers of America (VOAcolorado.org); Mountain Studies Institute (mountainstudies.org); Fort Lewis foundation (fortlewis.edu/foundation); or The Shanta foundation (shantafoundation.org).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Durango Herald on Apr. 23, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Ali Sabeti

Sponsored by Hood Mortuary - Durango.

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Kunrat Wirasubrata

March 24, 2022

I cherish the experience to work under supervision of Ali in early 1990s at the World Bank office in Jakarta, he was my Division Chief at that time.

Bjorn Wellenius

August 21, 2019

My sincere condolences on the passing of Ali. Our careers at the World Bank brought us together in 1993-94. I remember him fondly.

April 28, 2019

To the Sabeti family,

We are deeply saddened by your loss. We offer our thoughts and prayers in your time of grief. We look forward to the day when we are reunited with our loved ones again

Ann Bond

April 28, 2019

It was a gift to know Ali. He gave so much to this community. His passion was in helping others.

Laura Lewis Marchino

April 26, 2019

Ali was action oriented and accomplished much. I am remembering him with you.

The Cavanaugh Family

April 25, 2019

The best neighbors anyone could ask for. I look forward to more stories(no,...really!) in the future when we are all together again...

Sweetie Marbury

April 24, 2019

My heart hurts for your family. Ali was a brilliant man and gave so much to our Durango. He was kind and thoughtful to all he met. He left his mark on the world.

Sweetie Marbury

April 24, 2019

It has been about week ago that I heard your name for first time from your Cousin - Loba Mirali. She is visiting us in Dubai and we were talking about family history in Iran and she mentioned your name and talked bout you for a while. We didn't know that you left this world probably around that time we were talking about you. Although I didn't know you in person but I felt about you from the conversation I had with your cousin. That makes your departure hard for me and I feel the sadness. R.I. P.

Sam Irani

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results

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Hood Mortuary - Durango

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