Shohreh Tavaf Rashti

We are saddened to announce the passing of Shohreh Tavaf Rashti, 69, on Sunday, August 6, 2023 in Atlanta, GA. Known as “Shushu” by her loved ones, she was a taste-maker, rule-breaker, and care-taker to so many around her. She brightened every room she entered, not just by her bedazzling attire and sparkly jewels, which were iconic, but by her undeniably bright personality and unique charisma.

Shohreh is survived by her children, Saam Shahidi and Sammar Shahidi (Lawton Marion Costello); her beloved granddaughter, Cyra Marion Costello; and her younger siblings, Shahab Tavaf, Sharareh Tavaf, and Shiva Mendez. She was preceded in death by her parents Hadjar Sigarchi and Mohammad Kazem Tavaf Rashti.

Shohreh always rooted for the underdog, challenged the establishment, and championed those around her to live life on their own terms; for this her legacy will always live on.

In her lifetime she ventured to faraway places. She left her hometown of Tehran at age 23 to live in Brighton, England before she moved to North Carolina to receive her bachelor’s degree and her Master’s in Business Administration.

Shohreh then moved to California where she started a family, but it is safe to say that she never stayed put. She loved to travel and took her family to countries such as Japan and Russia, but she always stayed true to her roots. After 48 hours in Tokyo, she was ready to find the only Persian restaurant in town.

She was proud of her culture and loved to host her friends and family and to cook her famous ghormeh sabzi for them. Even those who did not know Shohreh, knew she was Persian as they saw her zipping by in her Silver Mercedes with the license plate “Goozam.”

When she wasn’t traveling, Shohreh loved to play cards and complete word search puzzles, but her true passion was shopping. Her closet was filled with the most avant-garde garments and shoes—a testament to her imagination and distaste for the ordinary. But Shohreh loved shopping for others as much as she loved shopping for herself. She never arrived empty-handed, and she enjoyed sharing her treasures with her family and friends.

Above all, Shohreh’s greatest pride and joys in life were her children and grandchild. She was the epitome of a mother, a protective lioness who created an environment where her children were allowed to freely express themselves and were always encompassed by her unconditional love.

Her grandchild, Cyra, or “Nokhteh” as she called her, was her truest love. The unspoken connection they shared was unmatched, Shohreh beaming with pride and overjoyed with love every time she saw her. She could never get enough of holding her or munching on her toes and legs.

She had style, she had class, she had flair and she was loved by so many. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.

The Shahidi and Tavaf family invite you to share your fondest memories of Shohreh at her Celebration of Life Ceremony on Sunday, August 20th at the Saratoga Country Club, 21990 Prospect Rd, Saratoga, CA 95070, from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Per her wishes, we request that guests wear WHITE to party in style for the last time in her honor.

In lieu of flowers we ask to donate to the following organizations:

Breast Cancer Foundation

Emory Cardiology Research