Hasan Haidar Sayani

Hasan Haidar Sayani passed away peacefully on August 10, 2024, only a day after the 60th anniversary of his arrival in the United States from Mumbai, India. He was 86 years old and had lived in Gambrills MD for almost 42 years.

Hasan was born in Ahmedabad India March 2, 1938, where his father was a Professor of Persian and cricket coach; he grew up in Bandra, India, a suburb of Mumbai, where his mother taught sewing and crafts (as a young engineering student, Hasan maintained her classroom sewing machines).

After earning degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, he managed a fuel-distribution business in Mumbai before changing direction and applying to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (close to Detroit car companies) where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s and PhD (1972) degrees in Industrial Engineering (he was a born engineer : -).

He started as an Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering at the University of Maryland, founded and co-managed a software development company for 25 years, then became Director of the Graduate School Software Engineering Program at the University of Maryland University College before retiring in 2012.

Hasan married Denine Tarras in 1972 and was quite proud of their two children, Adam and Sarah. He became a U.S. Citizen in the 1976 bicentennial year.

Hasan was, throughout his life, a mentor, an audiophile, an optimist, a gardener with quite a green thumb, a gourmet and foodie (both cooking and eating — and member of a dining group that’s been meeting for @ 50 years), a car guy (we washed the cars every Sunday for many years), a geeky gadgeteer, a photographer, a spiffy dresser, something of a practical philosopher (you can’t discriminate for something someone can’t change, like skin color; willful ignorance, on the other hand, is fair game), a kind and generous friend, a chocoholic, and a well-organized planner (if you got on the to-do list he usually carried in his shirt pocket, it was a done deed).

Hasan leaves behind his wife Deni, children Adam and Sarah, two grandsons, and one grand dog as well as family in Mumbai, India, including his sister Noorjehan Merchant, brother-in-law Dr. Mahmood Merchant, two nieces and their families and several cousins.

Burial will take place at 1:00 pm August 20 at Serenity Ridge cemetery in Windsor Mills, MD. The family would very much love to have memories you would care to share.