Shala, please accept my deepest and heartfelt condolences. I hope you, Hanna and Sara have come to accept Farshid’s passing and that you are well. Warm regards, Ellen Siebel-Achenbach
This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Farshid Navissi. Farshid was born in Tehran, Iran in the early 50s. He completed his undergraduate Accounting degree in Iran, and his Master of Accounting at Oklahoma University. Farshid taught at the National University of Iran and became involved in research and a national institute. He completed his PhD at Auckland University in New Zealand, and went on to teach there for a number of years. Following a move to Melbourne, Australia, Farshid accepted a position at Monash University and obtained professorship. Farshid contributed significantly to teaching, research, and service initiatives in the academic field of Accounting. He was an internationally renowned scholar who published extensively in world’s top journals in the disciplines of financial accounting, management accounting, and auditing. Farshid was highly dedicated to training the next generation of accounting academics. He supervised 15 Honours and 11 PhD candidates to completion, many of whom he collaborated with on research projects.
Farshid was married to his wife Shala. They had their first child, Sara, in 1991, and Hanna in 1992. He was an unconditionally supportive and loving family member, who would joyfully do anything for them. His sudden death is a devastating loss to their small and close family. He will be forever in our hearts.
Tributes
Leave a tributeShala, please accept my deepest and heartfelt condolences. I hope you, Hanna and Sara have come to accept Farshid’s passing and that you are well. Warm regards, Ellen Siebel-Achenbach
I wanted how you were doing at Monash and was shocked to know that you were gone. Let me first offer my deepest sympathies to your wife Shala, and your two lovely daughters. I met your family personally and was most impressed with Shala's wonderful hospitality and your daughters' achievements at school. During your six months stay at the Queensland University of Technology, your office was next to mine and for the entire period of your stay you were my fellow researcher, my guide,
and a truly academic friend. You continued to guide me even after leaving QUT and joining Monash. Your perseverance with referees and editors was remarkable. Your seminar presentations were uplifting. You were the kindest teacher, researcher and mentor. Your departure is a loss to me and indeed to the academic community.
I am deeply saddened and shocked about the late news on my side. As you left Iran I was just a little boy and always enjoyed your presence and your humor and admired you a lot. Deep in me you were always an example to me. I was always very proud to have such an uncle.
I am sorry about the broken bound and the situation with the family in Iran. We often used to write and exchange messages and ended up with the fact that one cannot influence “somethings” in life and here we shared the same destiny.
Even though we had not met for years and I was in Germany you still corrected my MBA Thesis, you invested time in reading and providing your precious feedback.
In the last years I tried to get in touch via SMS and Whatsapp and get a bit closer to you. We exchanged several messages and were very close to meet which unfortunately did not work out.
I was surprised as you did not receive my this year's Nowruz wishes and just came to know…
I was deeply blessed to have you as my uncle and will forever carry you in my heart.
My heartfelt condolences goes to Shahla, Sara and Hanna.
With love and respect
Sascha
I send my love and heartfelt condolences to his lovely family on this sad occassion.
When the Board members of the Audit Firm of the Nationalized Industry were taking initial steps to start up the organization, he was the very first person that joined the firm (Employee No 1) prior to the organization commencing its audit activities. He was the first who initiated several projects at the Research Center of the Firm. This was all due to the respect we had for his integrity, professionalism and his enthusiasm. That organization, as I understand it, is the top financial oversight organization in the country, presently employing several thousand professionals.
Farshid was one of exceptional person that I had a privilege of being his friend. His warmth, positive and addictive personality were his most important gifts. He enjoyed a circle of friends whom they all admired and respected him. I am still at loss as to why all the good people have to leave us so soon?
I wish Farshid’s wife, Ms. Shala, and their two daughters, Sara and Hanna, peace and patience for their losses and to Farshid’s colleagues and students whom I am sure still shocked with the loss of such a gifted academician. Farshid will always be with us.
We know each other for more than 20 year and have always the pleasure of being your friend for ever. You always inspired me and gave me the heart by mentoring our business with great advice. You saved lot us of memories and money, of course, which I always appreciate all the efforts, helping us to run our our business.
I'm sure your sole is more proud than before of your brave and lovely wife Shahla and two beautiful daughters, Sara and Hanna which they always support each other strongly in hard times of missing you and I'm always here for them -so you my dear friend, rest in peace for ever!
Farhad Raeis
Our daughter, Lillee, became friends with Sara when they were around 6 years old at Kristin School in Auckland.
How lucky we were as through their friendship came our friendship and many happy memories - of beautiful rugs, inconvenient rabbits, blue 4-wheel drive, big smiles, the shame and horror of our teenage daughters when you and Gilbert walked into the emo party in the wild west to collect them on the dot of midnight; of laughter, cheesecake, late night conversations filled with wit and opinion and on Halloween, our daughters dressed up and trick and treating while you, Shala, Kaye, Gilbert and I waited with wine and pizza.
Intelligent, kind, genuine, funny, smart, interesting, always planning, always loving your family, a good man.
There is no acceptable explanation for your departure Farshid - your light shines on in your clever and beautiful daughters and wife.
Much love Adrienne and Gilbert
Such a shock to hear this sad news of your passing ...too soon!!! Such a kind and gentle soul and a wonderful colleague. I have fond memories of our wonderful chats in the kitchen at Caulfield while getting our morning tea and coffee. You are missed. Blessings to your family.
Your sudden passing has left a void in many lives. I am forever grateful to be one of the 11 most fortunate PhD students whom you had supervised to completion. You had imparted many precious lessons about research and life to me in the years we worked together since 2007. You were my mentor, teacher, and friend. Your kindness and caring nature was evident in every conversation we had. You wholeheartedly and positively accepted my family commitments while training me during those long and hard PhD years. You always had high expectations and were full of wisdom in guiding me on the right path. You were also generous in sharing health tips. I still have your yoga book!
Post PhD, you were extremely kind and understanding whenever we met up to talk about potential research projects. You had always asked about my family, knew my husband and children by name. You made my little boy felt important whenever you met him on campus. You left my then 4-year old son in awe after the first encounter. He said to me “I like Professor Farshid”. You also taught me about parenting teenage girls, giving lots of much appreciated tips and suggestions. You inspired us and left impressionable footprint on all who crossed path with you. Farshid, you are dearly missed and will be fondly remembered.
Christina Wong-Lim
Even though I had only known Farshid for a couple of months, it felt like I had known him for years. He was very personable and was always smiling. He really loved the Palmy lifestyle and was so excited about Shala coming over to join him in NZ.
Most workdays I would catch up with him and we would talk about the house he had just purchased and his planned renovations. I really enjoyed spending time with him and he will be sorely missed by all of us in the School.
Rest in peace my friend
Andrew
Your sudden and untimely crossing the threshold, has left many of us, family and friends, unsettled. I do need more time to come in terms with this fact. I personally miss our talks, though not frequent, they were earnest and straight, but usually with laughter. During your life, you have contributed enormously to many of your students and colleagues both personally and professionally. You have carried out impactful research that will be valuable for years to come. You have had a loving relationship with Shala, caring and warm attitude towards Sara and Hannah. I appreciate your memories. May your soul be blessed.
Alireza
I shall always regard it as an honour and a privilege to have known you.
You only spent three short months at Massey, yet we were all impressed with your friendless and your enthusiasm about being part of our School. I can still remember the day you joined us - 1 November 2018 and the days after. As your “office neighbour,” I was honoured to have shared many conversations with you – about your plans for teaching and research, your experiences at Auckland and Monash, your family, and the challenges of buying a new house and making it ready for your family.
Your passing is a great loss to our School and to Massey! You will be sorely missed!
I've known you for just a little while but seemed to know you forever, such a gentleman and kind hearted person, always willing to help. I will always remember your smile, your thoughtfulness and encouragement. We were supposed to have research meeting on that Monday when I heard the tragic news. I endeavour to start that research as a tribute to you.
Thank you so much...
I will always remember our first meeting at Caufield campus in March 2009. With your wonderful advice, I decided to put all other options which I had aside and pursued my studies at Monash. I greatly appreciate you so much for your immense support, guidance and help throughout my studies. I found you an excellent academic who helped junior researchers and his students, including me, at his level best. I never forget your useful advice in many aspects of my personal life including my marriage (which I desperately needed). You were not only my supervisor or colleague, you were my close friend and above that my elder brother. You were always so kind to me and I will miss you forever.
Mehdi
I knew you as the charming, supportive gentleman husband of Shala. You were a gracious host when we visited your family in Auckland and in Melbourne, and it amused you that we named our little girl after your inspirational wife. I remember Shala telling me that years ago in Iran her girlfriends told her she would never get married, because she didn't cook or clean, but then you came along and you were perfect. You were intelligent, generous, caring, and encouraging. You are in our thoughts with love, as are Shala, Sara and Hanna.
Anna O'Brien
Although you were part of our School (School of Accountancy -Massey University) for a very short time. You were always jovial and always found time to say hello and share a small chit chat. It was great having you as a colleague. You will be missed.
Nirmala
While he was at The University of Auckland, Farshid and I taught our final year undergraduate course in Financial Statement Analysis. He was an innovative teacher. He introduced real-world cases into the classroom that included CEO presentations (as if the CEOs were presenting to analysts) and students were required to perform valuations of listed companies using the CEOs’ presentations, market information, and company financial statements. Farshid knew the importance of communications, and students had to present their work to the whole class.
Farshid was an insightful researcher. I recall his 2005 paper with Vic Naiker and Stewart Upson on the securities price effects of Napster-related events published in the Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance. They had the foresight to predict music technology’s effect on company value when they studied Napster’s streaming music services. More recently, Farshid has been researching managerial ability and the value of talent, demonstrating his research creativity and breadth in his continuing strive to push the research frontier.
My fondest memory of Farshid is as a friend. We enjoyed each other’s company and the dinners with our spouses. I would always make a point of catching up with Farshid at conferences. When I was at a conference at Monash in January 2018, I was unable to contact Farshid as he had just left Monash. I regret not contacting Vic to get in touch with Farshid. However, I will treasure the wonderful times I enjoyed with a person who was softly spoken, polite, and considerate.
My deepest sympathy and condolences to Shala, Sara, and Hanna. Treasure the beautiful memories you have of a dear husband and a loving father. I know that Farshid was very proud of Sara and Hanna, and he used to tell me how well they were doing when they were attending St Cuthbert’s College in Auckland.
“Death ends a life, not a relationship” (Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom); long may your relationship continue with Farshid.
What a sad news to hear about your sudden death. When I was reading the tributes from Farshid's friends about his life, I realized that Farshid is a good example for this poem from Master Saadi-Shirazi ( a major Persian poet and literary of the medieval period) who said:
سعدیا مرد نکونام نمیرد هرگز
مرده آنست که نامش به نکویی نبرند
translation:
Saddia, a man who is remembered with goodness and kindness will never die
Dead is the one who is not remembered with goodness and kindness.
May God bless you.
Aside from his qualities as an academic, Farshid was a fine man and a good friend. My sympathy and prayers go out to Shala, Sara and Hannah.
This was a life well lived. A life full of honour and respect - a life full of contribution and care. Your family have much to be proud of.
I appreciate so much for your guidance, help and mentoring since I came to know you. I still remember our first meeting in Queenstown in April 2013. You were so kind to advise me, a young researcher who just started my academic career. After I moved to Monash in 2015, I have had you as my mentor and performance supervisor and a very good friend in personal life. I always remember your encouragement, advice and support with smile on your face. You indeed have set up a good example not only as an excellent and passionate researcher but also as a great senior mentor who is always supporting junior young people. You will be deeply missed.
Chen
Shala, Sara and Hanna, my thoughts and love are with you at this time - sorry I can't be with you, but know that I hold dear those memories that were created through those years, and I look forward to more time with you all. Kayexoxo
Thank you for being such a great colleague and bloke. You were always very collegial and supportive towards your many colleagues at Monash University and elsewhere.
A sad and premature passing but you will be remembered fondly.
Paul M
و دوستانت... در آرامش بخواب استاد
رضا و مرتضی
I remember the wonderful advice that you gave and the happy memories of your visit to Malaysia. You will always be remembered for your kind words, smiling countenance and most of all, the incredible, sincere commitment to help all who have asked you for advice. Thank you for sharing your scholarly gifts with us. We will remember you always.
I fondly recall many challenging but positive and thoughtful debates during our time together at Auckland and also at Monash. They always ended with laughter, a meeting of minds and that wry smile!
My heartfelt condolences to Shala, Sara and Hannah.
Vale Farshid.
You were one of the first academics to mentor me and help me in my research endeavours. You saw me through my Honours and supervised through my PhD. I am ever thankful for your academic support and life advice. I would always remember you telling me not to “fight” my child and just embrace their character – you used to say that with a smile on your face. I would also remember the times you would get excited about our project and call me a few times a day to ask about the progress. Your hard work and dedication will never seize to amaze me.
You will be greatly missed.
Egor
I still vividly remember my first day at Monash University in July 2006. You were the first colleague to greet and welcome me to the Department. Ever since, I have had you as my mentor, a very good friend, someone I could count on during difficult times, both at work and in personal life. I will forever remember you as an academic who was a champion researcher and one who helped 100s of young academics like myself during our early years of academic career. A gift that money can buy has a limited life, but research training, the gift that I received from you for over 13 years, will be with me till the last breath I take on earth.
I, like so many others in the academic world for nearly three decades, knew you as a colleague, a mentor, and above all, as a friend. You sacrificed your own time to help us with our research. Your life work was not to champion the cause of those who were good researchers, but of those who struggled. Time and again I pass by your office in Caulfield Campus, knowing that you have left, but still wishing that you were there.
I wholeheartedly thank you for your mentoring and your friendship, and for standing by me during difficult times.
May God bless you, and may you rest in eternal peace.
Mukesh
Thank you for being such a great mentor and friend. You inspired me to become an academic and instilled in me the skills and passion to reach my fullest potential. I always adored how you managed to be so successful while always prioritizing your family, which influenced me to become a better son, husband, and father. You were always so kind to me. So much so that I had to celebrate the few occasions where I won the battle to pay for our coffees. Your legacy will live on in the lives of people you have transformed and the future generations that they will influence. I will miss you dearly.
Vic
Leave a Tribute
Shala, please accept my deepest and heartfelt condolences. I hope you, Hanna and Sara have come to accept Farshid’s passing and that you are well. Warm regards, Ellen Siebel-Achenbach
I wanted how you were doing at Monash and was shocked to know that you were gone. Let me first offer my deepest sympathies to your wife Shala, and your two lovely daughters. I met your family personally and was most impressed with Shala's wonderful hospitality and your daughters' achievements at school. During your six months stay at the Queensland University of Technology, your office was next to mine and for the entire period of your stay you were my fellow researcher, my guide,
and a truly academic friend. You continued to guide me even after leaving QUT and joining Monash. Your perseverance with referees and editors was remarkable. Your seminar presentations were uplifting. You were the kindest teacher, researcher and mentor. Your departure is a loss to me and indeed to the academic community.
I am deeply saddened and shocked about the late news on my side. As you left Iran I was just a little boy and always enjoyed your presence and your humor and admired you a lot. Deep in me you were always an example to me. I was always very proud to have such an uncle.
I am sorry about the broken bound and the situation with the family in Iran. We often used to write and exchange messages and ended up with the fact that one cannot influence “somethings” in life and here we shared the same destiny.
Even though we had not met for years and I was in Germany you still corrected my MBA Thesis, you invested time in reading and providing your precious feedback.
In the last years I tried to get in touch via SMS and Whatsapp and get a bit closer to you. We exchanged several messages and were very close to meet which unfortunately did not work out.
I was surprised as you did not receive my this year's Nowruz wishes and just came to know…
I was deeply blessed to have you as my uncle and will forever carry you in my heart.
My heartfelt condolences goes to Shahla, Sara and Hanna.
With love and respect
Sascha
Please be patient.