Asha Kumar Mehrotra's Obituary
With deep sadness the Mehrotra, Thapar, and Saluja families announce the passing of their beloved father Dr. Asha Kumar Mehrotra on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the age of 82.
Dr. Mehrotra was born in Calcutta, India on March 19, 1940, to Narsingh Das Khattry (Mehrotra) and Bulakan Mehrotra. He grew up in Calcutta with his brother Narendra Mehrotra, Chandra Kapoor, and Madhuri Mehrotra and completed his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Bengal Engineering College and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee (formerly Roorkee University).
On February 6, 1966, Dr. Mehrotra married his dear wife, Nisha Mehrotra. After their marriage, Dr. & Mrs. Mehrotra settled in Delhi, India where Dr. Mehrotra served as Professor of Engineering at IIT, Roorkee for two years. His intellectual prowess and curiosity along with encouragement from his best friend Narayan Murarka and support from his wife led him to earn M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Nova Scotia Technical College. Dr. Mehrotra and his wife moved to the U.S. in 1970 and lived in Harrisburg, PA, Commack, NY, and New City, NY, where he held positions at ITT Terry Phone, Singer Telesignal, and Western Union.
In July of 1981 Dr. Mehrotra and his family moved to Gaithersburg, MD where they lived for 28 years before settling in Sterling, VA. While living in the Washington, DC area, Dr. Mehrotra held positions at SpaceCom, Mitre, TASC, Hughes Network Systems, Raytheon, and Aerospace Corporation. He basked in the joy of teaching and served as an adjunct professor at George Mason University, Virginia Tech, George Washington University, and University of Maryland.
Dr. Mehrotra’s resilience and devotion to establish himself in the US and build a better life for his family were manifested in his willingness to hold a full-time job, through teaching, and in writing 3 books on cellular communication. With inexhaustible energy and unyielding resolve, Dr. Mehrotra led by example and taught his children the value of teamwork, to never doubt their capabilities, stand up for what they believe in, and that hard work, sincerity, and perseverance eventually bears its fruit. He was loved and he amused all that knew him and even those that transiently met him. His passion for learning, education, and instilling wisdom in others was insatiable.
Personally, he was a permanent fixture at Athletic Express in Gaithersburg, MD and Life Time Fitness in Sterling, VA where he enjoyed working out, swimming, playing tennis, and racquetball. To ensure he maintained his sizable belly he balanced his exercise by consuming the amazing delicacy’s prepared by his wife and was the first to make it into the car for a fast food or ice cream run. He enjoyed watching Hindi movies during which he ran full commentary to maximize the entertainment value for his family. He loved old Hindi music and was inspired by it to compose some amazing pieces of his own. He’d often share his compositions with his family early Saturday and Sunday mornings to ensure they made the most of their day.
Dr. Mehrotra’s heart was infinite and pure. His love for his family was unfathomably deep. He was relentless in his determination even under adverse and ostensibly insurmountable circumstances that confronted him particularly early in life. He savored every opportunity and experience, treated every one equal, and bought profound optimism to every situation. He exuded compassion, empathy, and love.
Dr. Mehrotra is survived by his wife, Nisha Mehrotra; daughters: Anuja Thapar, Sonia Mehrotra, and Vinita Saluja; sons: Neil Mehrotra, Rajnish Thapar, and Atul Saluja; and four grandchildren: Rishab Thapar, Ananya Thapar, Ahana Saluja, and Ishaan Saluja. He is preceded in death by his parents, Narsingh Das Khattry and Bulakan Mehrotra, in-laws Bhagwati Prasad Dhawan and Krishna Dhawan, siblings Narendra Mehrotra, Chandra Kapoor, and Madhuri Mehrotra.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests a donation be made to the American Heart Association or Capital Caring (https://www.capitalcaring.org/get-involved/donate/).
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