Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, last week, our community lost a great civic leader, a true American success story and a pillar of the San Francisco Bay Area: Masud Mehran. He passed away on November 26th, at the age of 93, surrounded, as he always was throughout his long life, by his family, by those he loved, by those he cherished most.
Masud Mehran lived the American Dream. He was an immigrant who came with his wife, Maryam, to the United States from Iran in search of opportunity. He got an education from some of our finest universities and traveled across our country. He made his way to the Bay Area, to the region that would be his home for more than 60 years, and started a business. And over the ensuing decades, he built Sunset Development Company into one of the largest, most successful real estate developers in California.
For Masud, extraordinary success in business was not enough; his values, his heritage, and his conscience drove him to do more--for our community, for our young people, for our state and nation.
Beyond his extensive leadership roles among associations of home builders and developers in San Francisco and statewide, Masud's generosity could be seen in his support for the health of our youth at Children's Hospital; the development of our children in the Boy Scouts of America; the education of our students at Golden Gate University, Dominican College, UC Berkeley, and elsewhere.
His efforts were recognized with the Good Scout award for outstanding leadership in helping to build a better American community; the Democratic Heritage award from the Anti-Defamation League; and the Award of Excellence from the Urban Land Institute for Large-Scale Office Park Development.
All who knew him will long be inspired by his leadership, his values, his strength, and his willingness to give back to those around him. His legacy can be found in the impact of his philanthropy and the example he set for so many others in the Bay Area and nationwide. Yet no legacy--in business or in community activism--could ever compare to the extraordinary pride he always took in his family.
Devotion to his family was Masud's first priority. Dedication to his loved ones was his defining characteristic. Spending time with his wife, Farideh, his son, Alex, and his grandchildren was his greatest joy. He will certainly be missed by all who knew and loved him.
May it be a comfort to the entire Mehran family that so many share in their grief and mourn along their side at this sad time. May Masud Mehran's life and memory forever be a blessing to us all.