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Editor's Note: A campus memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Tam Alumni Center.
UNLV sadly announces the passing of Nasser Daneshvary, director of the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies and professor of economics in the Lee Business School at UNLV. Daneshvary passed away unexpectedly at his home Aug. 18. He was 62.
A longtime faculty member and noted expert on the economic impact of the real estate market, Daneshvary was sought regularly by the business community and the media for his expertise on issues regarding foreclosures, housing, and the ongoing recession in Las Vegas.
“Nasser was a friend and great contributor to the growth and prestige of the UNLV campus,” said UNLV President Neal Smatresk. “We will all miss him and send our deepest sympathies to his wife Rennae and his family.”
After arriving at UNLV in 1990 as an assistant professor of economics, Daneshvary quickly was appointed chair of the economics department and went on to become interim chair of the management department, associate dean, and associate vice provost for academic resources. He also served the university as former chair of the UNLV Faculty Senate and most recently as director of the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies.
“Nasser had a distinguished record of service to UNLV and was an energetic researcher, a dedicated teacher, and well-published author in economics and real estate,” said Percy Poon, interim dean of the Lee Business School.
As an administrator, he oversaw the development of a major in international business, the executive master’s degree in business administration, and dual master’s degrees in business programs with the law and dental schools.
A prolific scholar with dozens of publications, Daneshvary was honored earlier this year with the American Real Estate Society Legacy Award, which is given to the author of the best paper published in the society’s flagship Journal of Real Estate Research during the past three years.
Daneshvary previously served on the faculty at Southeast Missouri State University, Norwich University in Vermont, and Tusculum College in Tennessee.
He is survived by his wife, Rennae, who serves as associate director of research and administration for the Center for Business & Economic Research at UNLV and as director of the business school's Nevada KIDS COUNT program; and his son, Arash Vasegh-Daneshvary.
Details on memorial arrangements will be shared as soon as they are available.
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Nasser will alwayas have a special place in my heart. I had the opportunity to work with him for several years when I worked in the College of Business. He taught me very quickly that he demanded accountability. If you could do what you said and do it well then you were good in his book. I wanted to make sure that whatever he tasked me with, was not only done correctly, but also done BEFORE the deadline. Many people will say that he wasn't an easy person to get to know, but that wasn't the case as all. If he could depend on you and your word you would get along just fine! I'll never forget some Friday evenings after work when all the work was in order, a very eclectic group of campus individuals would meet over at Moose's and we'd have a table on the patio. Nasser would kick his feet up and loosen his tie that he wore even on Fridays, and lean back and light his cigar and smile! It was a smile that came from the satifaction of a hard days work, something he knew very well. You'd even find him here on the weekends when needed. I charish this memory of that great man that once walked among mortals. I'm so honored to be able to call him a friend and colleague. My warmest sympathies to his family and loving wife Rennae. Heaven was non-smoking before Nasser got there! As you know he's made some changes!
Dr. Daneshvary was my professor the first year he came to UNLV for statistics. He was a huge influence on me and became both a mentor and a friend through the years. He was an extraordinary professor, then dean, but more importantly, a friend. He will be missed. My sympathies to his wonderful wife, Rennae, as well.
I had an opportunity to learn statistics from Dr Daneshvary. It was a great honor to have studied under him. He laid a good foundation of the subject in our minds. With teachers like him one's interest in a subject lives on for life.
RIP Dr. Daneshvary
I had the honor and privilege of meeting this great man when i joined the UNLV MBA Program in Fall of 2009......he was always very kind, helpful and i used to go to his office and talk to him on campus about so many things.....i loved his classes, he was a powerhouse of knowledge....he was someone from whom i used to draw a lot of motivation and courage.....the news of his sad demise leaves me shocked and heartbroken.....may his soul rest in peace....
The news of Dr. Daneshvary's passing was heartbreaking. I think Dr. Daneshvary was a credit to his profession and a real asset to UNLV. I had the privilege of working with him in the dean's office of the College of Business. I know he will be greatly missed by his family and co-workers and will be remembered fondly for many, many years to come. I wish my sincere condolences to his family.
Dr. Daneshvary was one of the first people that I met at UNLV and that was over 10 years ago when I was an MBA student. When I had problems in my first semester he was a huge help to me. He was the sort of person you learned from both in and out of the classroom. I spent time working with him as a faculty senator when he was chair of the Faculty Senate and he only gave me great advice. UNLV, as well a great many people, will miss Nasser in many ways. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family at this time.
I became friends with Nasser when he and I served together in the dean's' office of the business school many years ago. He was a very nice man, a talented teacher, scholar and administrator, and a tireless worker for the betterment of UNLV. I am very sorry that he is gone, but I am very glad that I had the opportunity to be his colleague and friend over these last 15 years. I will miss Nasser, but I will not forget him.
Dick Morgan
I had the blessing to work with Nasser at the LIED Institute for Real Estate Studies. He was, above all things, a force and a scholar. In a short period of time, he created a lasting impression and provided an example of intelligence, dedication, and laughter that will not be soon forgotten. My prayers go out to his family.
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
- Thomas Campbell, "Hallowed Ground"
I lost a good friend and colleague when Dr. Nasser Daneshvary died unexpectedly of a heart attack last week. Nasser was a teacher, scholar, economist, former department chair, former associate dean, former associate provost, former chair of the faculty senate, director of the LIED Institute for Real Estate Studies and a rock star at rallies to support UNLV. He was by his own account a street-fighter and by my account an excellent cook. He loved Rennae. It is hard for me to imagine seeing Rennae without Nasser, they were a true couple--each others' biggest fan.
Every university has a few people who by their sheer will and unique character imprint themselves on the institution. Nasser gave his full measure of devotion to UNLV. He was everywhere: in the classroom, newspaper, and journals, at every meeting of substance, and in the middle of every controversy. Like Madonna, he only needed a first name...if you said "Nasser" people knew who your were talking about. My guess is some folks didn't even know his last name.
It was impossible to be indifferent toward Nasser. He wouldn't let you. He scared some people, drove everyone nuts at one point or another, and was only underestimated by fools. I confess that Nasser was on my list of seven people with whom I would only meet twice on the same day. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed meetings with Nasser, but conversations with him took a lot out of me. Meetings with Nasser were never light, airy affairs even when they involved liquor. He demanded your full attention.
My most memorable conversation with Nasser involved a discussion of the difference between being a "nice" and "good" guy. Nice guys, Nasser explained, tell people what they want to hear. Good guys tell people what they need to hear. Nice guys expect little of people. Good guys demand their best. Nice guys live by others' values. Good guys live by their own values. Nice guys are liked. Good guys are respected. That discussion was meant to make me a better dean. I believe it did.
Nasser was also very kind. He held his friends close and would do anything he could for them. If he told you he would do something, it was money in the bank. He was one of my biggest supporters at UNLV and the only person who really understood Mike Clauretie. You couldn't meet two more different people than Mike and Nasser, but they formed an effective professional partnership and personal friendship.
Nasser led a life of passion, not indifference. He changed an institution and left a legacy. It was a meaningful life lived on its own terms, without fear of failure. It was a life well lived. If you want to honor him, don't send flowers: do something to make UNLV better.
I will miss my friend Nasser. He was a good guy.
So very sad to hear this news. Nasser was the economics department chair when I started teaching at UNLV, then was the associate dean. Needless to say, he had a big impact on my career. His very premature passing is a huge loss to UNLV and, on a personal level, to the many people whose lives he touched. Thinking of Rennae and wishing her comfort and peace in this very difficult time.
Dr. Daneshvary gave me my first break when I came to UNLV for the MBA program. The MIS program needed someone to teach a class and he recommended me based on my resume and our interview. I taught that class for 4 semesters, stayed on at UNLV, and eventually got a Ph.D. I wouldn't have accomplished it without him. I will miss him.
Dr. Daneshvary was an inspiration to me and many other MBAs. May he rest in peace, and his legacy live on.
What a tragic loss. My heart goes out to his family. Nasser was such an asset to UNLV and this community - he went above and beyond any call of duty and did it with a smile. We are so grateful for everything he has done. God bless you Rennae and Arash.
I am totally flattened by Nasser's death. He was one of my very first professors at UNLV and kindled my interest in economics and my love for UNLV. We became friends and colleagues as I continued in the field, and Charles & I got to know Nasser & Rennae very well. We have lost a scholar, an inquisitive thinker, a humane man and a wonderful friend. Nasser, we were fortunate to know you. My heartfelt condolences to the family.
Dr. Daneshvary was kind, happy, and gracious. He shared his time and expertise with our local IREM Chapter (Institute of Real Estate Management) at several of our events. He was a joyous person and will be sorely missed.
I was deeply saddened by the unexpected news that one of the heroes of my undergraduate and graduate days, Dr. Daneshvary, had passed away. I have always been a big fan, and I cannot thank him enough for everything he'd done for me. As associate dean, he went out of his way to answer all my clueless international student questions, and when I was admitted to the MBA program, he helped me get a graduate assistantship so I could finance my studies. We bonded about both being from abroad, and I loved hearing about his youth in the Paris of the East, Tehran. Dr. Daneshvary was a kind, wonderful, thoughtful and dedicated professor and a wonderful human being. I am honored to have known him as much as I did. He made a huge impact on my life. I am deeply grateful. My heart goes out to his family.
I am so sad to hear of Dr. Daneshvary's sudden passing. He was a positive and energetic force - and for those that had a chance to come to know him, his passion for academics and his work left its mark. I am so thankful for the time spent with him. May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all of the UNLV community.
Dr. Daneshvary was the dean when I attended the MBA program. He interviewed me before being accepted, and was always interested in my progress through the program. I cannot remember a time when he was not warm and kind. This is a great loss we all have suffered.
A true scholar and a wonderful man. I met Nasser 12 years ago while working on my MBA. Nasser was always supportive of me and an a true inspiration. We spoke periodically over the years and he was always sincere and caring. In the twenty years I've been around UNLV, I've never had another professor impact me the way Nasser did. UNLV has lost a valuable asset and a real class act. Farewell my friend, RIP.
I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear of Nasser's passing, may his family find peace during this difficult time. RIP Nasser
Professor Daneshvary had a knack for elevating the performance of his students. He was never content to see us merely getting by. He expected and demanded more of us, and we are better for it. I never felt so far out of my comfort zone as I did learning under him, and accordingly I never learned as much from anyone else.
Compellingly, he also walked the walk. In class Prof D told stories of how research problems would keep him up late and motivate him to get up early. He taught, researched and lived with the sort of passion that accompanies one who loves what he does.
My greatest hope for his students is that we all find that same zest and attack the problems in life with the same diligence and ingenuity as he demonstrated so often. If we can manage that, and encourage others to do the same, then his legacy will endure.
Nasser was a great man. I was lucky to be able work for him as a graduate assistant in the College of Business. He truly cared about students and the success of the university as a whole. He was a positive influence for me both scholastically and professionally. I would not be where I am at today without his help. My thoughts and prayers to out to his family.
Dr. Daneshvary was a man with a heart too big for this world. He helped people without expecting any help return and he cared for all. His vision for the world was to bring happiness to all around him. It is not fair that those who made the biggest differences have to go so soon. I'm deeply saddened for the passing of Dr. Daneshvary, and I'm greatful for having known such an amazing individual. May all those cherish the great memories they had with this wonderful man.
A friend...
This news saddened me greatly. I had a great deal of respect and admiration for Nasser and enjoyed talking with him on many, many occassions on various topics. This is great loss to UNLV, and we will all miss Nasser.
I am so sorry to hear this news. My sympathy and prayers are with the family and the entire UNLV community. Dr. Daneshvary is one of the brightest, most thoughtful and engaging individuals I have had the pleasure of working with. He will be deeply missed.
I had the privilege to know and work with Dr. Daneshvary when he served as faculty senate chair and there is one word that comes to mind above anything else... "passion." Dr. Daneshvary was passionate about his field, the university, and most importantly, Dr. Daneshvary was passionate about helping others achieve success in their academic and professional lives. He was truly a class act and will be sadly missed.
Dr Daneshvary was truly a great professional and a lovely person. May he rest in peace!
What a great man. He was a very good teacher who loved his work. It's extremely rare to find someone with that level of passion. Thank you for all your time. I'll never forget The Danesh!
Khodahafez...