Waite Hill -- Simin Gharib Naraghipour was a French teacher, TV reporter, leading volunteer and admired hostess.
Naraghipour died Thursday, Dec. 29, at her home in Waite Hill from complications of cancer.
"She was a fabulous tennis player and a volunteer beyond superb," said Lucius McKelvey, local head of Howard Hanna. Raising money for favorite causes, such as the Holden Arboretum, "she refused to take no for an answer."
"She was an advocate and an ambassador," said Scott Evans, vice president of Lake Erie College, where Naraghipour taught and served on the board. "She had the ability to motivate people to get involved, come to events and contribute."
A gourmet cook, Naraghipour staged and stocked elaborate parties and fund-raisers, usually with a French theme.
"The table settings, the invitations, everything had her flair, her high standards," said a sister, Susie Gharib, who anchors PBS-TV's "Nightly Business Report."
Born in Tehran, Simin Gharib moved at age 2 to New York City, at 5 to Rochester, Minn., and at 7 to Warrensville Heights. Her late father, Dr. Ali Gharib, taught medicine at Case Western Reserve University.
She graduated from Cleveland Heights-University Heights High School and CWRU, earning bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in French. She also earned a certificate from the University of Besancon, France. She married Dr. Hossein Naraghipour, a heart surgeon, now retired from St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. The couple lived in Gates Mills before Waite Hill.
She taught French in the Orange school district, at Hawken School and at Phillips-Osborne Academy. She promoted the immersion methods of Emile de Sauze, a famed Cleveland language teacher. She allowed only French in the classroom, along with props, costumes and music.
Naraghipour also taught French and film at CWRU, Cleveland State University, Lake Erie College, Lakeland Community College and Notre Dame College.
"She had a curiosity and an interest in our ideas and dreams and instilled a lot of confidence," said Stephanie Walters Unterweger, who attended Hawken during Naraghipour's time there.
From 1980 to 1987, Naraghipour appeared on "PM Magazine" for WJW-TV Channel 8. In spots called "Simin at the Movies," she reviewed films and interviewed stars such as Meryl Streep and Alan Alda. She also turned out cultural previews called "On the Town" and "Instant Weekend." She helped to promote the fledgling Cleveland International Film Festival.
She later served as media coach for leaders at American Greetings.
Naraghipour was a trustee of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Institute of Art, Lake Erie College, Hiram College, Holden and Le Cercle des Conferences Francaises de Cleveland.
She played tennis almost daily and organized tournaments at the Cleveland Racquet Club and Kirtland Country Club. She was a doubles finalist two years running in the regional Kay Whidden Tournament. She always kept a racquet in her car in case of a game.
"She had a zest for life," said Susie Gharib. "Simin was like a thousand-watt light bulb."
I remember her as a sweet, smiling, quiet girl, and we reconnected briefly at the 40th reunion. Wish I'd known her better, kept in touch. Through her obit I discovered we had much in common, especially her philosophy about learning a foreign language, and the arts. I miss her.
"Simmie" as I knew her was lots of fun at Heights & at Case Western Reserve, our alma mater. Grateful that I got to know her humorous side, as well as her sweet, sensitive side. We both loved French and the late Catie Osborn, a loving role model for the two of us at CWRU as a dean & French professor.
I can see her as part of the hospitable Angel Corps to welcome newcomers to the next world...Individuals like Simmie made me glad to be a graduate of CHH & CWRU.
David Brown
Waite Hill -- Simin Gharib Naraghipour was a French teacher, TV reporter, leading volunteer and admired hostess.
Naraghipour died Thursday, Dec. 29, at her home in Waite Hill from complications of cancer.
"She was a fabulous tennis player and a volunteer beyond superb," said Lucius McKelvey, local head of Howard Hanna. Raising money for favorite causes, such as the Holden Arboretum, "she refused to take no for an answer."
"She was an advocate and an ambassador," said Scott Evans, vice president of Lake Erie College, where Naraghipour taught and served on the board. "She had the ability to motivate people to get involved, come to events and contribute."
A gourmet cook, Naraghipour staged and stocked elaborate parties and fund-raisers, usually with a French theme.
"The table settings, the invitations, everything had her flair, her high standards," said a sister, Susie Gharib, who anchors PBS-TV's "Nightly Business Report."
Born in Tehran, Simin Gharib moved at age 2 to New York City, at 5 to Rochester, Minn., and at 7 to Warrensville Heights. Her late father, Dr. Ali Gharib, taught medicine at Case Western Reserve University.
She graduated from Cleveland Heights-University Heights High School and CWRU, earning bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in French. She also earned a certificate from the University of Besancon, France. She married Dr. Hossein Naraghipour, a heart surgeon, now retired from St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. The couple lived in Gates Mills before Waite Hill.
She taught French in the Orange school district, at Hawken School and at Phillips-Osborne Academy. She promoted the immersion methods of Emile de Sauze, a famed Cleveland language teacher. She allowed only French in the classroom, along with props, costumes and music.
Naraghipour also taught French and film at CWRU, Cleveland State University, Lake Erie College, Lakeland Community College and Notre Dame College.
"She had a curiosity and an interest in our ideas and dreams and instilled a lot of confidence," said Stephanie Walters Unterweger, who attended Hawken during Naraghipour's time there.
From 1980 to 1987, Naraghipour appeared on "PM Magazine" for WJW-TV Channel 8. In spots called "Simin at the Movies," she reviewed films and interviewed stars such as Meryl Streep and Alan Alda. She also turned out cultural previews called "On the Town" and "Instant Weekend." She helped to promote the fledgling Cleveland International Film Festival.
She later served as media coach for leaders at American Greetings.
Naraghipour was a trustee of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Institute of Art, Lake Erie College, Hiram College, Holden and Le Cercle des Conferences Francaises de Cleveland.
She played tennis almost daily and organized tournaments at the Cleveland Racquet Club and Kirtland Country Club. She was a doubles finalist two years running in the regional Kay Whidden Tournament. She always kept a racquet in her car in case of a game.
"She had a zest for life," said Susie Gharib. "Simin was like a thousand-watt light bulb."
Donna Milder (Ettkin)
I remember her as a sweet, smiling, quiet girl, and we reconnected briefly at the 40th reunion. Wish I'd known her better, kept in touch. Through her obit I discovered we had much in common, especially her philosophy about learning a foreign language, and the arts. I miss her.
Trudy Gottlieb (Lapin)
"Simmie" as I knew her was lots of fun at Heights & at Case Western Reserve, our alma mater. Grateful that I got to know her humorous side, as well as her sweet, sensitive side. We both loved French and the late Catie Osborn, a loving role model for the two of us at CWRU as a dean & French professor.
I can see her as part of the hospitable Angel Corps to welcome newcomers to the next world...Individuals like Simmie made me glad to be a graduate of CHH & CWRU.