Diane K. Monaco

Diane Kathleen Monaco passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025, in Toledo, Ohio. She was born on November 2, 1954, in Detroit, Michigan, as the eldest of three children to Peter and Theresa (Carey) Monaco.

Diane earned a B.A. in Psychology/Sociology from Wayne State University, in Detroit, Michigan, where she met her husband of 47 years, Ezzi Salari. She also received an M.A. in Economics from the University of Akron and a Ph.D. in Economics from Wayne State University while raising five children.

Diane worked as an economist for the federal government at the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C. for several years and spent a significant portion of her career in academia where she shared her passion for economics with her students as a beloved college professor at various institutions of higher education, including Eastern Michigan University, Manchester College, and Heidelberg University.

Beyond her professional career and accomplishments, Diane’s most cherished role was as a loving mother, wife, and grandmother. She is survived by her husband, Ezzi; children, Sara (Josh), Bijan, Kamran (Jasmin), and Susan; and grandchildren, Jack, Charlie, and Teddy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Theresa; eldest son, Rustam; and brother, Craig. Her love of her family was reflected in her biggest hobby as an avid genealogist, where she was able to trace her family’s lineage back several generations spanning many centuries.

A private Celebration of Life will be held this summer.