Florida’s new board

Past secretary of the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) and the Zoroastrian Association of Florida (ZAF), Jahanbux B. Daruwala is the new president of ZAF who took over the reins from Khushroo Daruwalla. Other office bearers assisting him on the 2009-2010 board are vice president Burjis Shroff, secretary Kersi Munshi and treasurer Zersis Minocher, noted a brief news item in the summer 2009 issue of FEZANA (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America) Journal.

When Parsiana sought an introduction to the new team, Munshi obliged by sending us a short note on the four office bearers and five members at large. Six of the new team members have their roots in India. While five of the board members are retired, one is in business and one affiliated to a medical institution, two are still studying.

President Daruwala who has done his PhD is originally from Gujarat. A retired executive from Du Pont Pharmaceuticals, he was a senior consultant in pharmaceutical manufacturing and QC/QA (Quality Control/Quality Assurance). His wife Nancy is also a retired consultant in pharmaceuticals and they have two sons Jamie and Paul.

Shroff, a doctor of medicine, works as assistant director of the Emergency Department at the Delray Medical Center. He is also involved in community activities and assists the handicapped. His wife Havovi was former president of the Association of Indians in America, Florida Chapter, and they have two sons Dustyn and Kevyn.

Baroda born and educated Munshi is an engineer who is a retired international management consultant and information technology executive. His wife Dolly retired as an anesthesiologist and they have two grown up children, Sherally and Feroze.

Mino­cher did his graduation from Bombay and subsequently his MBA and MACC in Florida. He is the owner of Avesta Inc, an accounting and tax consulting firm and lives with his new bride Anahita.

The five members at large on the new board are Ervad Soli Dastur, Nina Deboo, Amy Irani, Jimmy Major and vice president Burjis’ son, Dustyn Shroff.

L to R (alongside): Jimmy Major, Kersi Munshi, Zersis Minocher, Jahanbux Daruwala, Burjis Shroff, Amy Irani, Dustyn Shroff and Soli Dastur. (Above): Nina Deboo with Dustyn

Born in Tarapur, Dastur studied at the M. F. Cama Athornan Institute and became a full fledged mobed with navar, martab and samel at the Iranshah Atash Behram. Trained as a chemical engineer, Dastur did his PhD, and worked with Procter and Gamble for 30 years before he retired. He lives with Jo Ann, his wife of 43 years, and now spends time on learning more about the religion and performing religious ceremonies throughout North America.

The youths on the board are Deboo, a first grade teacher in Florida currently pursuing a Master’s degree in elementary reading education and 21-year-old Dustyn, a senior at Florida Atlantic University who will be attending law school, beginning fall. He plans to initiate more youth involvement within ZAF and other Zoroastrian communities.

Irani was one of the original five founder members of ZAF, having moved from Bombay to Canada and then to the US in 1979. Formerly running an art gallery, she is now retired and lives with her husband Gustad and mother Tehmina Gandevia.

Major too has his roots in Bombay. After earning his accounting and law degrees, he worked for Tata Textiles for 15 years before he migrated to the US in 1981. Now retired, he lives with his wife Farida.