Obituary of Gayle P. Zargham

Gayle Zargham died peacefully on Oct. 11 after a brave three year battle with ovarian cancer. Born and raised in Newark, Gayle graduated West Side High (55 - first female student body president) and Upsala College (59 - honors student) where she met her life-long love and husband of 47 years, Dariush Zargham. Soon after Gayle and Dariush married she began her other life-long passion: teaching. They lived in Miami and then Newark until 66 when they moved to Iran. There, Gayles life bridged disparate cultures. She taught math at Tehran American School and mastered Farsi and the finer points of Perisan cooking. Gayle and Dariush began a move to Livingston in 75 where she endured lonely separations while Dariush transitioned from businesses in Iran. She continued her education (Masters - Rutgers 78) and later graciously openned her home to friends and family displaced by a hostile Iranian revolution. She resumed her career part-time at Newark Academy (where her kids were) and then Hillside HS and finally retired in 2003 after about two decades at Whippany Park HS. Gayle was giving, endlessly positive and continually improving herself. As a teacher she always demanded precision and excellence. As a mother, she was firm and loving. As a wife - loyal, admiring and inextricable from Dariush. Gayle is survived by Dariush who deeply loves her and doted on her until her very last breath. And also by her sons and their families: Stephen Zargham, of Troy NY, wife Lynne, and children Michael and Melissa; and Douglas Zargham of Miami, FL, wife Melanie, and sons Colin and Keaton. Gayle was predeceased by parents J. Frank and Helen OConnor (nee Schleicher) of Newark. Gayle will be greatly missed by family, friends and many others who were fortunate to have known her. Visitation will be held at Preston Funeral Home (prestonfuneralhome.net) 153 So. Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ on Sun, Oct 15th from 2:00 5:00 PM. Services will be held at Preston Funeral Home on Monday, October 16, 2006 at 11am. The family encourages donations to the Salvation Army (www.salvationarmyusa.org) in lieu of flowers.