Jalil Soltani

A few thousand kilometers away from here on a cold winter night in a land where its people are known for bravery and patience, a son was born to Assadoallah and Effat 68 years ago. His name was Jalil.Jalil means a person of integrity and respect, and he was indeed a man of integrity and respect. He was a happy and cheerful child. Due to his tender nature, he was attracted to fine arts and music. At 18, he participated in obligatory military service for two years, after which he chose not to pursue his interests in art due to the religious and traditional atmosphere of the time.  Instead, he started working at a bank.At 21, he fell in love and married his beloved, Azam. Within a year, they had their first son, Ali, and he experienced the joys of fatherhood. Five years later, their daughter, Samira, was born, and she added to the warmth of their family life.After the Islamic Revolution and the reign of religious fundamentalism in Iran in 1978, he refused to be known as a religious person; however, he was always dedicated to the highest morality and ethical manners, including respect and peace for others.He continued to pursue his artistic interests in his free time. A few years after the revolution, he wrote a story and illustrated it with fine drawings. Due to political restrictions and censorship in Iran, he was not able to publish his book. The Iranian government did not approve of the content, and his efforts failed to reach fruition.  He was a talented storyteller and captivated his audience when he talked about the memories and stories of his life. All sense of time would be lost in his sweet, warm voice.Jalil loved his motherland, but at 43, he decided to leave Iran for the United States and join his brother, Jalal, in Lubbock so that he could provide a better future for his children. Initially, he started working alongside his brother, and together they opened a series of chain restaurants. Later, he expanded the business independently with his son, Ali. He treated his staff with the highest respect and considered them part of his family. He participated in all their events and genuinely cared for their prosperity and well-being. He took responsibility for as many tasks as he could so that he did not add to his staff’s workload. He was loved and cared for by all who worked for him.He continued to pursue his artistic interests. He loved the skies and clouds and enjoyed watching the sunset in the vast skies of Lubbock. Playing backgammon was his favorite hobby. He had outstanding skills and always impressed his opponents. He enjoyed the competition. The familiar sound of dice on the wooden board of backgammon was heard in all of the gatherings where Jalil was present.He loved his grandchildren unconditionally and used to spend hours playing with them tirelessly. He used to say that his grandchildren were his entire world. He never went to visit them empty-handed and loved to give them gifts. He was a patient and loving grandfather who enjoyed traveling with them.Jalil always paid close attention to his clothes. He took such care in how he dressed that he was usually the last person ready to leave for an event. His friends and family could tell his presence from the smell of his cologne. He enjoyed shopping, and he used to take his time while doing so. Above all, he loved his wife’s cooking, and playfully encouraged her to make his favorite dishes.On his last winter on Earth, as he was happily embracing his grandchildren on his 68th birthday, an insidious disease was borne and slowly found its way toward him. As Jalil was planning a surprise cruise for his wife, he became infected with the novel coronavirus. On July 18th, 2020, after ten days of fighting, he said farewell to this world and left us. Jalil will always be remembered by his friends and family.