Dr. M. Saeed Koolaee

This post is from Dr. Sako Ohanesian, one of my dad's closest friends. Amoo Sako, he is so lucky to have had such a dear friend like you. He asked that this be posted on his behalf, in remembrance of Saeed. I wanted to take a moment of your time and write about my friendship with Saeed. After graduating from dental school back in 1980 I had to go to the military to serve the country during the war time. I was stationed in a navy medical clinic in the Persian gulf (city called Boushehr). A few weeks later Saeed came to the same clinic to start his service. That day was the first time I met him. We shared a room with one or two other personnel. He would treat navy personnel and I did dental work for them. We both were ordered to go to the front line. I went to an island in the Persian gulf that would be bombarded almost on a daily basis. He went to the eastern border very close to the front line that he could see the army of the other country! When we both came back alive, he mentioned that he had to walk out of the building to use the restroom so he decided to take medication to allow him not use the restroom often and not get shot by snipers! The city of Boushehr was also under constant daily attacks. The city was in total darkness at night time. But we kept ourselves happy and busy by playing cards, watching TV, cooking, washing dishes etc. After the military service ended we had to work for the government for a couple more years to be able to practice in the Capital (Tehran) or get a passport to leave the country for higher education. I established my dental clinic and he worked in his office and in the main hospital of the same city, and again we shared a room together. At that time his first child was born and he would work hard and overtime to get days off and go see his family which he adored. After finishing our requirements both of us immigrated to United states. I came to California and he went to Ohio and later to Maryland. The distance and the very difficult times we both and our wives had to study, work,have families and establish ourselves in the new country, kept us apart. We saw each other every now and then for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other occasions, and spoke on the phone most of the time. It's interesting that his wife and mine were classmates in university and got along very well! After Michelle and Raj's wedding (which we were present) and them relocating to California, we saw each other more often. We would have lunch and dinner together and with other friends of his. His favorite restaurant was Raffi's place in Glendale California. When I heard of his cancer and the prognosis I was really saddened and shocked. Not to mention that I was diagnosed with bladder cancer myself about 10 years ago and would call him those days and get his advice. Both of us were smokers back in the day! After he was forced to retire, he told me he was not ready for it and wanted to work another 10 years and help his patients. I will really miss him. I do apologize for addressing everyone informally as Saeed was an accomplished cardiologist and his wife is a pharmacist doctor. His older daughter and his son in law are accomplished doctors as well. I understand his son and younger daughter have become medical doctors too. What an incredible accomplishment. Lastly, I want to say that Saeed was a wonderful doctor, husband, father, and a great friend. I will miss him very much, but I know he'll be with us in spirit and in our hearts forever. With love and condolences Sako Ohanesian.