Nazanin Shahmolky came into the world in the Tehran of 1970, in an Iran that was very different from that of today. She was born to a privileged family; she and her brother were driven to school by the family chauffeur. Most of her family, which was royalist and secular, left Iran in the aftermath of the revolution.
She initially moved to the United States, where she studied human biology at the University of Utah. She had a talent for numbers. As an undergraduate, she was struck by the fact that her classmates and even her professors had to use calculators to do sums that she could do in her head.
She later moved to Canada, where she obtained a masters in microbiology from the University of Toronto. Her thesis supervisor was the renowned scientist Daniel Drucker. He wanted her to continue her microbiology studies and obtain a PhD, but Nazanin decided that the life of a researcher was not for her.
She went on to study dentistry at the University of Toronto. Upon graduation, she worked as an associate at dental practices across the GTA, including an office in Hamilton. She suggested that the office open on Sundays and offered to work on this day. Because it was the only dental office open on Sundays, the local hospital began referring its emergency dental patients to her.
Perhaps for this reason, when she opened her own dental office, she chose to specialize in emergency dentistry. She was devoted to her patients and would answer emails at all hours, seven days a week. Her patients were equally devoted to her. Her practice flourished, but health issues forced her to retire early.
She loved to travel and crisscrossed the globe with her life partner, Maria. Together they went to Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Cuba, China, Japan, Morocco, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Argentina, among other places. But she was also a homebody, and liked nothing more than to have a barbecue dinner at home with her partner.
She was witty: despite being an introvert, she would always enliven social gatherings with her humour. She loved to score a deal, but she also appreciated luxury. She would spend much of her time trying to snag the best possible goods at the lowest possible price. She was strong, taking care of her elderly parents and her partner, and facing her health challenges with equanimity.
Nazanin always liked her given name, which means beloved — and she was beloved. She leaves behind her mother, Mina, and her brother, Ahmad. She died peacefully on the morning of June 23, 2026, after a battle with brain cancer. Her partner was by her side.
A memorial reception will be held on Sunday, June 28, from 3pm to 5pm at Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre (375 Mount Pleasant Road). In lieu of flowers, guests are asked to make a donation to Princess Margaret hospital.
Funeral Details
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Memorial Reception
Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre
375 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON, CANADA, M4T 2V5
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Sunday, 28 Jun 2026 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Info: To reach the funeral centre, enter through the East gates on Mount Pleasant Road. Drive toward the first building you see, turn right, then take the first left.