On Sunday, February 12, 2023, Mehdi Iraj Kazemi, loving father and grandfather of five children and five grandchildren, passed on peacefully at the age of 90 in Murrieta California.

Mehdi was born on December 17, 1932, in Teheran, Iran, the son of Moussa and Mariam Kazemi; he is survived by sons Mehrdad (Margaret) Afshar and Tooraj (Tracey) Kazemi, Daughters Mojdeh Sakaki, Gissoo (James) DeCotiis, and grandchildren Ali Afshar, Babak and Bijan Sakaki, and William and Emily DeCotiis.

He was a Colonel in the Iranian National Police Force and retired after 25 years of service. He was preceded by death by his wife Kobra Kazemi and his son Fariborz Afshar.

He enjoyed traveling around the world and yearned for his birth country.  He was passionate about Persian poetry, backgammon, spending time with family and friends, cooking and eating Persian foods, and gardening.  He loved his family unconditionally and was an extremely kind and compassionate man who truly cared for everyone he met and helped anyone in need.

Visitation for family and friends, and a memorial service honoring his life will be held from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at England Family Mortuary on Madison Avenue in Temecula, CA on Friday February 17, 2023.

Memorial donations in his honor may be given to UNICEF USA.