Manu Manouchehr Sheikerz

Manu was born in Tehran, Iran to Ebrahim Sheikhrezai and Sarvar Rahmanian on December 28, 1938.

He lived in Iran until he was 21 when he left to study architecture in Vienna, Austria. He’d never been out of Iran, had never been on a train and did not know any German yet he traveled by himself, by train on or about 1960 to Vienna where he stayed for 10 years – becoming fluent in German and all things Austrian – including an appreciation for classical music, ballroom dancing and the Sachertorte cake.

He married Soraya Farsadi on August 26, 1964. Upon receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and architecture from Technische Universität Wien, the family – which now included a son, Mehdi Sheikerz, born in 1965, moved to Tehran, Iran, on or about 1969. A daughter was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1971.

He was an architect for his 50 plus year career. For the first 10 years of his career in Iran, he was an assistant professor of architecture at the new Iran University of Science and Technology. He and his family came to the United States in September 1979. He expected to be in the states for a two-year sabbatical from the university. However, things changed quickly as the political climate changed in Iran. He gave up his position at the university to remain in the states and pursued a career as an architect. He started as a residential architect before starting a 27-year career with Marshall Erdman and Associates (later Cogdel Spencer Erdman) as project architect, project manager and project designer in the medical building field. In retirement, he did consulting for his own firm MHTM Design, the initials of his four grandsons. Several of the medical facilities he helped design, are around the DMV (e.g., Kaiser Permanente building in Falls Church, Va., US). He loved being an architect, he loved working and kept busy until the very end.

Manu loved to travel and visited many countries, states, and cities over the years. He was fluent in Farsi, German and English and often read newspapers in all three languages. He loved being involved. He was active with the Home Owner Association (HOA) in Iran and in his community in Fairfax.

Manu was a kind, caring, gentle man with a big heart. He was the happiest when he was with his family, particularly his grandkids. He loved supporting them in all their activities, attending many soccer and basketball games, orchestra concerts, dance recitals and various other school events. He was affectionately known as just “Opa” by many, including the grandkids’ friends. He was a fixture at school pickups for many years. After many years of not understanding the hype over football, he found himself to be a big fan of the Washington Redskins and Virginia Tech football, though soccer was his favorite. In the fall, when he wasn’t watching football on the weekends, he prepared and then delivered homemade Persian stews that were a favorite of his kids and grandkids.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Parvaneh.

Manu is survived by his wife Soraya of Fairfax, Virginia, his son Mehdi (Mpho Musengua) of McLean, Virginia, his daughter Hale (Bob Brickhouse) of Reston, Virginia, and his five grandchildren: McDermott (Mac) Sheikerz of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Harry Sheikerz of McLean, and Thomas Brickhouse, Matthew Brickhouse, and Roya Brickhouse of Reston, Virginia.

Pallbearers will be Mehdi Sheikerz, Bob Brickhouse, Mac Sheikerz, Harry Sheikerz, Thomas Brickhouse, and Matthew Brickhouse.

Graveside service for family will be on Friday, August 18, 2023, at 10 am at the National Funeral Home of Memorial Park, Falls Church, Virginia, USA.