Gayatri Sadanand Kalbag

Gayatri S. Kalbag, MD (age 77) passed away on April 1, 2022 in Fairfax, VA. She was the eldest of five children, born Shashikala Madhav Gore on January 2, 1945, to Madhav Purushottam Gore and Usha Madhav Gore (nee Indu Shankar Bapat) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. As a student, she was quite brilliant and quickly took a liking to her science courses. After receiving a scholarship given to the children of teachers pursuing medicine, she was able to complete her studies at Jabalpur Medical College, a rare feat for a young woman living in the nascent years of Indian independence. After graduation, she worked as the resident physician for women and children at the ACC Cement factory hospital in Kymore, Madhya Pradesh. She spoke fondly of the memories of her newfound independence and the special time she spent there with her paternal grandmother.

She was married in May, 1970 to Sadanand Mangesh Kalbag and moved to Mumbai (then Bombay), Maharashtra where she gave birth to her two children. Soon, her husband’s job took the family to Lagos, Nigeria before they immigrated permanently to the United States in 1976. After coming to the US, she ensured her children received the best possible education and always encouraged them to partake in the opportunities that lay before them. She was incredibly loyal to her family’s success and worked tirelessly until she met her goals. She was privileged to serve for almost 3 decades as a psychiatrist at the Fairfield Hills Hospital, Newtown, CT and at the Binghamton Psychiatric Center, NY (now known as the Greater Binghamton Health Center).

In retirement she moved to NJ to be closer to her five grandchildren, Anoushka M. and Meera M. Buddhikot and Maia D., Kieran D. and Mira D. Kalbag, all of whom she was deeply proud of. The consummate physician and educator, she loved teaching her grandchildren about science and was often found drawing and labeling sketches of human anatomy as they chatted about the excellent medical education she received in India. She encouraged them to pursue their interests in sports, music, crafts, cooking, baking, and the visual arts and inculcated in them the importance of maintaining balance in their lives. She herself loved taking water aerobics, yoga, and dance classes, going for daily walks, and maintained a penchant for strength training even into her 70s. She also enjoyed celebrating life milestones by treating her family to a restaurant meal: birthdays, anniversaries, new jobs, promotions, awards, or just because they had helped her. Most significantly, she cherished her many friendships with those whom she regularly played bridge, canasta, and mah-jongg.

She is survived by her daughter Dr. Aparna S. Kalbag (Dr. Milind M. Buddhikot) and her son Sameer S. Kalbag (Sharayu D. Kalbag), a brother, Arun, and sisters Shoba, Sulu, and Ratna and their spouses, all of India, her five grandchildren, friends and extended family in the US and India and close friends Billie and Tom Noreika of NY.

She will be remembered for her caring and nurturing nature, her clearheaded decision-making, her strength of character, her optimism, even on the most difficult of days, and her deep love for her family. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her and loved her.

In accordance with her wishes, the funeral will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the SKN South Asian Diabetes Center.

https://sknfoundation.org/donations/south-asian-diabetes-center/

A celebration of life will be planned at a later date.