"He has done yeoman service in maintenance and repair work for our dakhmas pan India,” read a WhatsApp tribute for Cyrus Siganporia who died on June 30, 2025, aged 78. He and his band of volunteers were ever ready to take on the task of cleaning dakhmas and agiaries. Their first effort was to clean the Nargol dakhma in 1997. Subsequently, they went wherever their services were required whether at Andheri and Thana or elsewhere in places like Poona, Davier, Mhow and many others.
Solar reflectors at Doongerwadi; inset Cyrus Siganporia
Passionate about serving the community, especially the youth, the lifelong resident of Nowroz Baug took on various roles on the managing committee of the Nowroz Baug Play Centre (NPC) where he was active for over 40 years, notes his son Parvez in a write-up sent at Parsiana’s request. In recognition of his services the Play Centre had awarded Cyrus the lifetime loyalist award in 2022. The Bombay Parsee Association too often felicitated him for his selfless service and presented him and his team with cash prizes.
Cyrus was also involved with the All Parsees Sports Foundation for many years and received a lifetime contribution award from them in 2024. In his younger days he was proficient at football, volleyball and was captain of the kabaddi team, writes Parvez.
Cyrus was an alumnus of the Sir J. J. School and later graduated from the Father Agnel Technical School. He joined Larsen and Toubro (L &T) as a technical trainee, became a highly skilled precision dye maker and eventually retired from the company as tool room shop supervisor after working there for 30 years, notes his son. He received an award from L&T for donating blood over 100 times.
On retirement, the staunch Zarathushti served at Doongerwadi for 25 years during which time he was involved in various projects and initiatives. While he was overseer at Doongerwadi he had a serious accident in 2006, when he fell while checking a solar reflector panel. The panels have not been functioning over the past several years nor have they been repaired/ replaced.
Listing his father’s many acts of service, Parvez writes that he saved a person from drowning at the Parsi Gate at Marine Drive and received a medal for bravery. He organized a volunteer group to move the Tavri holy fire via the Vachaghandhy to the Jokhi Agiary at Godrej Baug. He searched for and identified three varasyas for atash behrams in Bombay and arranged for the paidast of seven other sacred white bulls.
Last October, Cyrus was struck by a vehicle and battled ill health for over eight months before succumbing. He is survived by his wife Zarine and son Parvez.