Ali Z. Hameli, M.D., the renowned and respected former Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Delaware, died at his home on January 8, 2026 – his 93rd birthday.
Dr. Hameli was born in Tehran, Iran to Mohammad H. Ziarati Hameli and Norasteh Maghami Hameli. He received his medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Science in 1957 and then completed his residency training in pathology in the United States. In 1964, Dr. Hameli was appointed as the state of Delaware’s first Chief Medical Examiner. He worked tirelessly to abolish the antiquated coroner system of unsupervised death examination, replacing it with the state’s first professional medical/legal medical examiner system, and was responsible for building the modern, state-of-the-art Medical Examiner’s main Wilmington facility on Adams Street. During his career, Dr. Hameli investigated several high-profile deaths including helping to identify the remains of the notorious Nazi doctor Josef Mengele and also identifying the 11 victims of the controversial 1985 Philadelphia MOVE bombing. Thanks to Dr. Hameli’s guidance and foundation, Delaware’s medical examiner system has one of the best medicolegal investigative facilities in the country, complete with its own forensic sciences laboratory under the jurisdiction of the current Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Gary Collins. Dr. Hameli established the tradition of Delaware’s Medical Examiner’s Office as a model for other states and even other countries to follow.
Dr. Hameli is survived by his wife, Parvin; 2 brothers, Mohammad Hameli and Akbar Hameli; his sister, Fatehma Baftechi; and nieces and nephews: Ray Hameli, Shayda Zandi, Hamid Hameli, Zohreh Leach, Zahra Hameli, Sheeler Wagner, and Sherveen Baftechi.
The funeral service will be held at 10:30am, with arrival to begin at 10am, Tuesday, January 13 at the McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike. There will also be a gathering at Redfire Grill Steakhouse, 400 Lantana Drive, Hockessin on Tuesday from 12:30 to 2pm. The family suggests honoring the memory of Dr. Ali Z. Hameli by sending a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, DE Valley Chapter, 399 Market St., Suite 250, Philadelphia, PA19106.
