Dr. Mehdy Behdad

Mehdy was born to Mohammad Hassan and Malek Behdad, on November 29, 1933, in Isfahan, Iran. He was the fifth of nine children, having had two sisters and six brothers. He was the first medical doctor of his family, graduating from the School of Medicine of the University of Tehran in 1966. After he graduated, he traveled to the United States to continue his post graduate studies in Chicago, Illinois and in 1970 completed his specialty in Pediatrics at DC General Hospital. He further completed a subspecialty in pediatric cardiology and began practicing in the heart of the Appalachia. He later reunited with his medical school colleagues and opened his private practices in Piqua and Troy, Ohio where he practiced until the age of 80.

Mehdy married a lovely young lady in Iran and before they knew it they began a colorful romance in Chicago. Mehdy and Sanam enjoyed many travels together and were such a fashionable couple walking hand in hand, documented in the hundreds of photographs left behind. Mehdy had an eye for all beautiful things and enjoyed capturing them through his years. If there was a new camera or technology, he was the first to acquire it and spend his time learning about it. The various photographic formats are testament to his love of seizing the moment from behind the lens.

He was a man who enjoyed a game of soccer, whether it was playing or watching it. He was an avid Washington Redskins football fan and could watch Rocky Balboa over and over again. While he valued sports and minding his health, perhaps his favorite activity was engaging in a complete and competitive game of backgammon, followed by a mindless game of computer solitaire.

Mehdy’s prowess as a poet was remarkable. He rarely sat idle but instead wrote poems in his pocket journal with topics ranging from a simple housefly to a best friend, with every line demonstrating his humor and compassion.

Any ear was blessed by the mesmerizing sound of Mehdy’s ney. One cannot separate that sound from him. His soul was synonymous with the ancient instrument, played by only a handful of people in the world. It was his outlet, in both high and low times, it was his breath and connection to something greater than himself.

It does not come as a surprise that Mehdy was attracted to the pediatric field since he himself was full of joy, laughter, adventure and curiosity. He was a participant father from day one, raising, loving and supporting three daughters. He walked with his head high, proud of his family and even more proud with the addition of three sons-in-law and seven grandchildren. He had a very playful spirit and such a thrill by introducing all his grandkids to the taste of Coca-cola well before their walking age. Surely not approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, but undoubtedly worth the enjoyment it brought to the grandpa and grand baby.

Mehdy valued a social gathering mainly on its quality of food. He was a man who loved a good Persian kabob, a cold carbonated coke with ice in the company of his friends and family. With ney in hand, this would make for his ideal way to spend his time.

Musician, physician, poet, traveler, photographer and athlete, Mehdy was a true Renaissance man. His absence will leave a void in all of the hearts of those who appreciated and admired his talents and contributions.

“Listen to the song of the reed, how it wails with the pain of separation…At every gathering I play my lament. I’m a friend to both happy and sad.” ~ RUMI

Mehdy is survived by his wife Sanam (Tabatabaian) Behdad and three children and their spouses, Elham Behdad and Masoud Amin-Javaheri, Pegah Behdad and Majid Moshirfar & Tanaz Behdad and Vahid Feiz, as well as seven grandchildren, Armaan, Ramin, Ameen, Omeed, Lily, Kian & Niki.

Services will be held at Carolina Funeral Homes and Memorial Gardens, 7113 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29404. Services to commence on October 7, 2023, at 11:00 am.

Services will be lived streamed through our Carolina Memorial Funeral Home Facebook page on the day of the service.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to either:

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

https://alzfdn.org/donate/

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (hospital of choice)

https://donate.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/