Pardis Patrick Ashouri, born on January 26, 1961, passed away at the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center on September 16, 2020 after his 4 year battle with ALS and lung cancer that had developed in the past year. Born to Parviz and Parvin Ashouri, he has one sibling Parisa Hurley. He was born in Iran and moved to California before the Iranian revolution in 1977 during which Pardis worked hard to make a living for himself whilst going to school. Pardis reconnected with Faranak Bahreni Nehjad in California and were married in June 1983 in Los Angeles. Pardis and Faranak had two children, Justin and Kristin.
Pardis completed his doctorate of law at the University of Glendale, shortly after Justin and Kristin were born. He later started his own firm, Ashouri Law Offices, which he ran for 25 years until he had to close the business after his ALS diagnosis. In addition to his law firm, Pardis was extremely involved with the local communities.
During Pardis's involvement with IALA (Iranian American Lawyer's Association), his networking with judges and government agencies were instrumental in empowering many other bar admittees that wanted to be noticed. He mentored many young attorneys in their starting years while making certain the immigrant community could more readily access the legal practitioners. Patrick pioneered and oversaw many projects and law-day programs through various community outreach using the local media to facilitate easy access to the lesser privileged members of community.
For several consecutive years, he was simultaneously working as a volunteer with many other local and national organizations representing the private bars. Pardis was a trustee of the LACBA for a number years as well as a member of other professional groups such MCBA, and CRCL which facilitated enactment and passage of some robust policies favoring the immigrant communities, especially in the aftermath of September 11 attacks on America. As a matter of fact, during the period which nationals of 16 countries were mandated to report to Immigration and Naturalization Service under the NSEERS program, in 2001/2002 Pardis played a key role, in liaising between the federal agencies and the immigrant community.
Pardis's work was evidently important to him, but family meant everything. He prioritized to make time for family vacations. He would take the family on cruises, camping, and exploring other states and countries. He ensured that his children received a good education. Pardis kept himself involved with his children's activities – attending sports matches and marching band performances, and even being the coach for his son's soccer team for several years.
Pardis was an honorable man with strong values and morals that he upheld himself to every day. His life was cut too short, but he will live on through the many lives that he has touched.
Services will be held Thursday, September 24, 2020, at 10:30 a.m., streamed to a Zoom meeting at http://bit.ly/pashouri.