Daryoush V. Assadi

Daryoush (Dar) Vaezzadeh Assadi, 81, of Bettendorf, Iowa, passed away on January 26, 2024, at Trinity UnityPoint Health surrounded by his family and friends.

Visitation will be held at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, 644 River Drive, Bettendorf, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 2, and 9:00-10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 3. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 3, also at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, followed by a burial ceremony at Davenport Memorial Park.  Memorials may be made to the family in consideration of an educational fund in Daryoush’s name to be established in the future.

Daryoush was born on January 28, 1942, to Hassan Assadi and Sherafat Jaberi in Shiraz, Iran. Being the son of a teacher, education was always a priority. He studied mechanical engineering and graduated as the top student from Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), so was awarded a full scholarship to pursue advanced degrees in the United States. He completed his master’s degree in 1969 in electrical engineering at the University of Iowa. He then attended New York University, graduating in 1974 with a Ph.D. in Metallurgy and Materials Science.

Upon graduation, he returned to Iran and became Chairman of the Department of Engineering at IUST. He left the university to become a design engineer for a multi-ton steel mill being built in Isfahan, Iran. At the time of the Iranian Revolution, he immigrated to the United States and became a design engineer for Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric (MidAmerican Energy) where he worked on the design of the Louisa Generating Station. He then went to work for Rock Island Arsenal in 1984, working as an engineer for the U.S. Army Weapons and Munitions Division. As Director of the Department of Science and Engineering, he developed a plan to safely dispose of chemical and biological warfare agents. He retired in 2004 after an exemplary engineering career.

During his time at the University of Iowa, he met Walda Gaylord, and they were married on September 6, 1969. Together they had one son, Armand. As a family they lived in New York City and Tehran, Iran, before settling in Bettendorf in 1978. Daryoush became a U.S. citizen in 1983.

Although Daryoush was proud of his academic and professional accomplishments, family was his priority. As the oldest of eight children, in Iranian culture he was considered head of the Assadi Family. He was instrumental in helping some of his family immigrate to the U.S., and he often opened his home to relatives for brief or long stays. Becoming a grandpa brought him immense joy. His most evident devotion to family was serving as the caregiver to his beloved wife for the final 10 years of his life.
Daryoush’s hobbies included watching sports, talking politics, working with Davenport school students in the “Math and Science are Great” program, and entertaining family and friends. He was a member of the LeClaire Lions Club. Upon retirement, he could be found grabbing lunch on Fridays with his ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) group.

Daryoush was predeceased by his parents and brother, Shahrokh. He is survived by his wife, Walda; son, Armand (Jennifer) Assadi; grandchildren: Gabriel, Leila, Ariana, and Zoya; siblings: Cyrus (Pari) Assadi, Kavoos (Saiedeh) Assadi, Kurosh (Ramin) Assadi, Susan Mina, Soheila Assadi, and Mohsen (Niloofar) Assadi; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Daryoush’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.