Dr. Jitendra Sukhadia, former president of the Staten Island chapter of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, America, passed away on March 21 at the Staten Island Hospital, Staten Island, NY. He was 63. He is survived by his wife Dr Ila, two daughters, a son and a granddaughter. The funeral took place on March 22. It was a testimony to his self-less service to the society for decades that an unprecedented crowd of every ethnicity attended his funeral.
As a philanthropist and conscientious community leader, Dr Sukhadia was a legendary figure in NY/NJ area. After 9/11, he with his wife Dr Ila, personally visited the families of deceased firefighters with cash donations. When Gujarat was hit by a deadly earthquake and after the tsunami disaster, he played a pivotal role in coordinating the medical assistance and financial aid to the affected regions. He actively guided the South American community in organising relief-efforts, when Peru was hit by an earthquake.
Dr Sukhadia was the key person in the success of 1984 World Hindu Conference in New York and 2000 Millennium Summit of Religions at the United Nations. He was trustee and founding-member of Staten Island Hindu Temple and AAPI. In 2007, he along with his wife Ila played pivotal role in the grand success of second Hindu Mandir Executives? Conference (HMEC) at Edison, NJ.
VHP, America, extended its deep condolences at the untimely demise of Dr Sukhadia. In his tributes, Shri Jyotish Parekh, president of VHPA, said, ?Dr Jitendra Sukhadia was a true karmayogi to his last breath, as if he was born just to help others. It'san irresparable loss not only to the Sukhadia family and VHPA but also to the entire Indian community living in US.
(FOC)
