Obituary of Umesh KHARE

Dr. Umesh Khare (1936-2015) Dr. Umesh Khare, family physician and beloved patriarch of the Khare Khandan (clan) in North America, has passed away peacefully at home in Calgary, surrounded by his loved ones, on December 19, 2015 at the age of 79. Umesh was the eldest son of Chandra Mohan and Suraj Pyari Khare of Laharpur, India. Umesh is survived by his loving wife, Kanak Prabha Khare; three daughters, Dr. Vandana (Greg) Slatter, Ms. Vineeta Maguire P.Eng., Dr. Veera Asher; three grandchildren, Quinn Vishal Khare Slatter, Shivana Pascale Maguire and Shalina Danielle Maguire; his brother, Dinesh (Madhu) Khare; his sisters, Tara (Kailash) Khare and Kiran (Arun) Srivastava and their families; two aunts, many cousins, and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren around the world. Dr. Khare was born and raised in the agricultural community of Laharpur in Northern India. After graduating in medicine from King George Medical College in Lucknow, India, he completed his residency training in Ottawa, Canada. He first practiced in communities of New Brunswick and in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. While in Glace Bay, he returned to India briefly for an arranged marriage to his wife of 51 years, Kanak Prabha Khare. In August 1964, he joined the medical clinic of Vanderhoof, BC. Then his life long friend, Dr. John Derosario, persuaded him to move and set up his own practice in Prince George, BC. Umesh was a family physician in Prince George for over 50 years. He served three generations of local Prince George families. Over the years, he delivered between 800-900 babies, assisted in surgeries, made countless house calls, and was even the physician in attendance at local boxing matches. During this time, the Prince George physician community grew from 25 to over 200 and Prince George grew from a regional resource-based community to the economic center of Northern BC, complete with its own medical school. Umesh continued to serve patients in immediate care clinics in Calgary, AB over the last two years. Umesh was very active in the Prince George community. He was a long time member of the Lions Club, a supporter of the local PG Symphony and, with Kanak, actively promoted cross cultural understanding in the increasingly diverse Prince George community, through different activities, and by hosting many celebrations in his home. Umesh was an intelligent, supportive, and pragmatic patriarch within his extended family. He was the eldest son of an eldest son, and was the first of his family to immigrate to Canada in 1960. He was directly or indirectly supportive of many families who followed him. The Khare diaspora in North America now numbers in excess of 200. His unconventional pragmatism is evident in the career success of his three daughters, which arose in part from his direct involvement with their activities and his strict direction to achieve careers that would ensure independence through life’s ups and downs. In his free time, he and Kanak loved to play bridge, earning Master’s points and winning many bridge tournaments. They also golfed, skied, built a social network of lifelong friends, traveled extensively, and spent much quality time with their families and grandchildren. He will be missed by all. Umesh would not wish to be remembered in sadness, please join us in celebrating his remarkable life. Funeral Services will be held at CHAPEL OF THE BELLS, 2720 Centre Street N.W., on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Please forward condolences through www.calgarycrematorium.com If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Provincial Office, Sun Life Place, 710, 10123 – 99th Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3H1 Telephone: 1(866) 412-4222, website: www.albertacancer.ca, or to the Northern Medical Program Trust at UNBC, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9 Telephone: 250-960-5724, e-mail: nmpt@unbc.ca