Deena M. Mistri

Deena M. Mistri (21 May 1925 – 27 January 2011, Karachi[1]) was an educator from Pakistan.

Early life and education
Mistri in 1950

Mistri was a member of the Zoroastrian Community. Born in Hyderabad Sind on 21 May 1925 to Dhunmai & Seth Pestonjee Jamshedji Soparivala.

She was married to Minoo Mistri, an architect, for 57 years.[2] Mistri received her Bachelor of Arts from the Bombay University in 1945, and her BEd with Honors in 1958 from the University of Karachi.


President Kennedy

Career

Mistri served the Bai Virbaijee Soparivala Parsi High School for 55 years. The same school that was founded by her great grand father Seth Shapurji Hormusji Soparivala – in 1859.

It is after completing her B.A. that she started visiting the B. V. S. Parsi High School and helping students with elocution competitions and started tutoring English to those that needed extra help. She was only 20 years young when she decided to go into teaching.

She started teaching English to the secondary classes at the B.V.S. in 1951. She was the first lady teacher to teach the secondary classes during those days.

After 21 years of service, she became the Principal of the B.V.S. in 1972.

Mistri took partial retirement after working full-time at the B.V.S. till 2004. She was employed at two schools from 2004–2011.

At the time of her death, Mistri was Chairperson of Westminster School and College, Karachi.[2]

Awards
Pride of Performance by President Musharraf

She was awarded the "Pride of Performance" by the President of Pakistan – General Pervez Musharraf on 23 March 2002 for the invaluable contribution she has rendered towards providing quality education in Pakistan for over 60 years.

She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship from the US in 1961, where she completed her Diploma in Education. In America she taught at the Ohio University and at the University of Austin – Texas as a visiting professor.

She was given Honorary Citizenship to Texas from Governor Price Daniel in 1962 for teaching at a local high school in Austin and as a visiting Professor at UT Austin.

Death

Mistri died on 27 January 2011 as a result a brain infarction.[2] Her funeral was held on 29 January in Karachi, with over 2,000 attending her funeral to pay their last respects.

References
  1. Deena Mistri dies Express Tribune 28 January 2011
  2. Deena Mistri passes Away Dawn. 28 January 2011
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