Died: Framroze Kaikhusroo Patel, 88, founder treasurer and past president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) and erstwhile president of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY); on June 6, 2024 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City following coronary heart disease.
"Rest assured will not fail… Not later than Thursday 20:00 hours,” Patel had responded when Parsiana sought inputs from him for our write-up on the 50th anniversary of ZAGNY last October. Despite suffering from bursitis (painful inflammation of small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near the joints) in his right shoulder, the Pennsylvania based octogenarian did send us the promised material with an apology, "Sorry for being late by 30 minutes!”
Known for his precision and eye for detail, Patel had assessed ZAGNY’s contribution: "Our vision was modest, and as Karma Yogis (those who perform selfless deeds regardless of the outcome) we have done what needed to be done, i.e. keep the community unified. We refrained from judging others. We wanted to assimilate in our new home and still preserve our identity. We were not revolutionaries. We did not want to change the world overnight. Our goals were modest: ‘Live and let live’… We let the members harken with their ears to the best counsel of the Prophet and reflect upon them with clear judgment. ZAGNY endeavored to let each member choose his creed… Further, ZAGNY has welcomed, as the community should have, with open arms the spouses of different faiths… We are pragmatists. We are centrists (see "The stars and scars,” Parsiana, November 21-December 6, 2023).”
"In Framroze’s passing ZAGNY has lost one of its heroes and leader,” summed up a communiqué from the New York Association when announcing the news of his demise. "He continued to serve FEZANA and ZAGNY for many decades, right till the very end. This is a huge loss for the Zarathushti community not only at ZAGNY and FEZANA but all over the world,” noted an email from FEZANA.
Top: Framroze Patel; above, from l: FEZANA past presidents Bomi Patel,
Dr Dolly Dastoor, Firdosh Mehta, Rustom Kevala, Rohinton Rivetna,
Framroze Patel in 2012 Photos: Jasmine D. Driver
Having journeyed alongside Patel for over 40 years, FEZANA founder president Rohinton Rivetna commented, "He was a treasured accountant, treasurer, sought-after financial advisor and friend to many of us and our organizations. As the first treasurer of FEZANA he set high standards and then as president of FEZANA he brought us closer to our worldwide community.” Viewing him as "a calming, benevolent and caring spirit,” Rivetna admired Patel’s "devotion to his beloved Surat Parsi Orphanage (SPO) which he never forgot, recognizing how the institution had opened for him the world of kindness which was his nature. Let us take a leaf out of Framroze’s life remembering, just like he did, that we are the beneficiaries of a community that has given us unconditionally what we possess and that we are duty bound to give back what we have received.”
Appreciating the "very supportive role” he played as vice president during her tenure as FEZANA president, Dr Dolly Dastoor remembered Patel as being "humble, modest, unassuming, religious and efficient… Many Zarathushti associations were incorporated and obtained their tax exemption status thanks to his expertise.” When he succeeded her as president in 1998 "he was instrumental together with (ZAGNY pillars) Prof Kaikhosrov Irani and Lovji Cama to get FEZANA recognized at the United Nations as a nongovernmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.” It was during his tenure that a World Zoroastrian Congress was held in Houston in 2000, the first to be held in North America. Yet he also faced "challenging and tumultuous times when trying to bring the Zarathushti federations together as a world body,” a mission in which he could not succeed despite his multifold efforts, observed Dastoor.
Following the demise in 2017 of Irani whom Patel considered his "mentor and best friend,” it was Patel who was entrusted the responsibility of distributing the estimated USD 2.6 million (Rs 18.1 crore) assets of Kaikhosrov and his wife Piroja to the beneficiary community organizations and individuals named by him.
Describing him as "a man of the highest character and honor,” a message from the Patel family — wife Armaity, son Pashang and daughter Arnavaz — appreciated how he would be ever willing "to offer us some perspective, to mend our heavy hearts with his statements and advice or just make us laugh with a dose of his wisdom.” To honor Framroze, "in lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the charitable fund closest to his heart and soul, the Goolbai K. Patel Surat Parsi Orphanage Fund,” requested the family.
Top: FEZANA’s first executive office bearers (from l): Dastoor, Rivetna, Homi Minocher Homji,
Framroze Patel, Sabar Bulsara; above: Prof Kaikhosrov Irani (seated) with Patel
It is conjointly named after his "angelic” mother Goolbai (who being widowed at 33 years of age with three little children and limited resources had to send her offspring to three different community orphanages) and the SPO where he was admitted on the day of his navjote and where he spent 15 years from 1943 to 1958. Framroze’s early education under a local instructor Bhagwanji in Davier had so impressed the then principal of SPO Dastur Khurshed Dabu that he was allowed to skip one grade and was directly admitted to the fourth standard at Sir J. J. High School (SJJH) in Surat.
During those days, the parents of the boarders were asked to pay an annual contribution of 1.5 annas, i.e. less than 1/10th of a rupee. If the parents could not pay, the Surat Parsee Panchayat (SPP) would forego the amount, for the then SPP president Nusserwanji Vakil believed "our responsibility is to train the students who will be the ‘core’ of the community, not the ‘cream’ of the community,” Framroze had written in an earlier article in Parsiana, (see "Ahura Mazda’s helpers,” March 21, 2007). The wholesome meals for the children were heartier than what their families would have been able to afford and their school uniform was khaki short pants and shirts with a black skull cap which Framroze continued to wear until he proceeded to Sir K. P. College for his commerce graduation. Students financed for higher studies had to walk over four miles each way daily to their educational institute. "In spite of the hardships, we were eternally grateful that SPO prepared us for an infinitely brighter future. Speaking for myself, I would not be where I am today, but for the educational opportunities provided by SPO,” acknowledged Framroze.
"At the Orphanage, our character was molded by our teachers who were both strict disciplinarians and kind at heart,” added Framroze. Among those he named were then SPP secretary Dr Ratan Marshall who knowing that Framroze used to stutter as a child would make him practice with two large marbles in his mouth until there was a noticeable improvement and he succeeded in winning elocution competitions at the University level. Ervad Eruch Daboo who succeeded as SPO principal convinced the SPP to finance Framroze’s postgraudation in Commerce and urged Vakil to recommend him to Sir Rustom Masani for his "articles” at Jamshedpur. It was thanks to the founder of the Cambay Institute of Commerce Noshirwan Karanjia’s coaching that Framroze passed the London Chamber of Commerce examinations in book-keeping and accounting in 1950 even before he graduated from high school and two parts of the correspondence course of The Institute of Cost and Works Accountants, London along with his Masters studies.
Patel family (from l): Armaity, Arnavaz, Framroze, grandsons Rayomand and
Cyrus, Pashang and daughter-in-law Khushnuman
When Framroze was sent home on vacations, he remembered accompanying his paternal uncle Homi kaka to agricultural fairs conducted by the government.There, Framroze got an opportunity to meet leaders like Bombay’s erstwhile chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan, Shantilal Shah, law minister in Morarji Desai’s cabinet, Godavari Parulekar, a left-leaning freedom fighter and a prominent figure in the Warli revolt of 1945.
Framroze’s first job was with Sarabhai Chemicals (Squibb), Baroda, as an assistant cost accountant. Before he left for the US in 1970 he was working with Union Carbide. He continued his management and cost accounting career at Exxon and other major corporations while pursuing his Masters in Business Administration. Upon completing the US requirements to practice as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) he went into private practice and was later admitted to an elite group of CPAs as a Certified Valuation Analyst, specializing in gift and estate tax valuation, buy/sell agreements, business planning and taxation.
He has been given credit for being one of the founders of the Good Life emblem and Good Life book which is used by the Boy Scouts movement in the US for qualifying for the Zoroastrian badge. Convinced that "happiness is the lot of him who works for the happiness of others,” Framroze believed that individuals should "aim to make our community and our world a better place to live.” In his last Diwali greetings to associates, Framroze had quoted from saints and seers of different faiths to reinforce his message for "eternal and everlasting peace” with tolerance and harmony.
The ace accountant is survived by his wife Armaity, son Pashang and daughter Arnavaz.