Dr. Kamlesh Sharma

Sharma, Dr. Kamlesh Dr. Kamlesh Sharma died on 21st December. Daughter of Kenya's Durga Dass and Sushila Datta, she married Dr. Visho Sharma in 1962. Their four children are Namita Sharma (Rex Brueggemann), Radhika Sharma (Bruce Gordon), Dr. Sujit Sharma (Achal Mehta), and Dr. Rahul Sharma (Anu Dewan). The immediate family, including her beloved seven grandchildren, was present when her long battle with cancer ended. Dr. Kamlesh Sharma spent the first several of her 49 years in the U.S. raising her children before obtaining her Ph.D. at Western Michigan University and joining its science studies staff. A most popular teacher, Kamlesh Sharma taught ethical aspects of biology before retiring from WMU in 2005 with emeritus status. An avid reader, gardener and gifted pottery maker, she took flying and painting lessons after retirement. She excelled at badminton (Michigan Mixed Doubles champion), bridge (Kenya and Kalamazoo), and golf (two Kalamazoo County Municipal Golf championships and several tournaments at Royal Nairobi, Kenya). Her admirers include the more than 20 persons who stayed with the Sharmas while attending college. A charter member of the local India Association, Kamlesh served delectable meals to cricket teams visiting Kalamazoo. Her recipes went around a large coterie of Indian-Pakistani food aficionados. Upon news of her passing, there has been an outpouring of adoration from across the globe. Dr. Kamlesh Sharma's many admirers have praised her uniqueness, and in particular, her kindness, wisdom, beauty, and grace. A private cremation with Hindu rites has taken place. Her life and its many contributions to the common weal will be commemorated next spring -- to include people from overseas. To celebrate a very special life, contributions in her memory may be made to the YWCA of Kalamazoo fund for young girls training in science and technology. (For more information: http://ywcakalamazoo.org/ - http://ywcakalamazoo.org/donate/. Add a note specifying that the donation honors Dr. Kamlesh Sharma.) SHARMA, DR. KAMLESH