Born Nov. 16, 1942 in Qom, Iran. Graduated with a Masters Degree in Engineering from Tehran University. Spoke fluent English, French, Persian, and Arabic. Married Narges Akbarnejad from Sari, Iran, on March 28, 1966 (later divorced). Survived by two sons, Dr. Bobek Arabshahi (wife Laura) and Mazdak Arabshahi (wife Fatimah). Bobek lives with his family in Gilbert, Arizona. Mazdak lives with his family in Sari, Iran. Mathew escaped Iran’s Ayatollah regime and immigrated to the United States in 1982, living in Texas and California prior to moving to Tooele, Utah, in 1992. Mathew built numerous successful businesses in Tooele, including Designer Cabinets, Rancho Tooele Development, Endeavor Business Park, Cyrus Land Investments, and Central School LLC. As a real estate developer and home builder, Mathew developed more than 400 lots for new housing. Mathew played a key role in transitioning the closed portions of the Tooele Army Depot (1,700 acres and more than 2 million square feet of buildings) into a thriving industrial park, infusing the local economy with many millions of needed dollars. Mathew met Cindy Miller in 1996; they were close friends and dear companions for the last 20 years. He was an important father figure to her three children, Paige Lloyd Smith (husband Joshua), Eris S. Miller, and Nicole M. Mehalich, as well as Cindy’s grandchildren Braedon, Ian, lllias, and Ava Adore. Mathew was close to his cousins and other extended family, as well as many friends. Mathew’s grandchildren Diba and Zachary (Bobak) and Arash and Nastaran (Mazdak) love him and will miss him. Mathew’s parents and siblings all preceded him in death. While Mathew was regarded by many as a shrewd businessman, yet he possessed a gentle soul. He once donated $5,000 toward a new playground at Harris Elementary School. He donated the land for Rancho Tooele Park. He quietly paid university tuition expenses for several local youth, and performed many other unknown acts of local service. Mathew dreamed big. He purchased the abandoned Central School, saving the architectural icon from ruin, and transformed it into 34 beautiful apartments. Mathew embodied class in his dress and in his deportment, courtesies, and presentation. Even while pursuing the rewards of enterprise, he always kept the interests of his home, Tooele, in the fore. One’s goodness is the measure of one’s greatness. To summarize the feelings of so many, Mathew was such a good man, and we were blessed to have known him. Services will be at Tate Mortuary, 110 South Main Street, Tooele, Utah. Gathering on Sept. 20, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. Funeral service on Sept. 20, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. Burial on Sept. 21, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. at the Tooele City Cemetery.
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Mathew Arbshay
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