The New York City Baha’i community in which Hussein and Tahirih Ahdieh served was racially and ethnically diverse. The Persian believers were hard-working immigrants—dentists, jewelers, car mechanics, architects, bookkeepers, and dental technicians.
Hussein and Tahirih regularly brought their children, Linda and Bobby, to the Green Acre Baha’i School in Maine became a second home for their family. This property was blessed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha and began life as a hotel owned by a progressive thinker and activist, Sarah Farmer, who dreamed of creating a center for thought and spirituality.
After meeting ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the Holy Land, she made Green Acre a center for promoting the social teachings of the Faith, most notably those on world peace and amity. The Master visited Green Acre during his trip across the United States.
Hussein was elected to the Spiritual Assembly of New York City and served as its treasurer. His father was very proud of him because serving on an Assembly was considered a great honor in Iran.
His grandfather, Muhammad Husayn, had been the first secretary of the Assembly of Nayriz, and my father, who was an especially good writer and speaker, later served in this capacity as well.
Muhammad Husayn
Among his wonderful colleagues on the Assembly was Viola Wood, the daughter of a Baha’i couple from Milwaukee. Her father had been a successful dentist in Milwaukee, which was no small feat for a black man in a white-dominated society. He continued to serve an underserved population through his practice. Viola’s selfless service was greatly valued by the Assembly and community members.
Francis, second row all the way left; Viola first row all the way right
Francis Merle Des Isles grew up in French Algeria, the son of a high official. A deeply mystical man, he had spent some of his early years living as a hermit. At his mosque, his teacher had told him that the day of the fulfillment of Islam had come, that Francis must go on a search and if he found the promised one of the age, he must write back to him. When Francis first heard of the Faith, possibly in Europe, he thought it was his duty to kill Baha’is because of what he saw as their heretical teachings but, after a powerful conversion experience, he instead became a devout Baha’i.