Sudarshan Kumar

Sudarshan Kumar, M.D. passed away on Friday, October 22, 2021 at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, California. Born and raised in Northern India, he earned a medical degree from King George’s Medical College of Lucknow University, beginning a life in medicine. This life took him to Edinburgh, Scotland where he became a Member of the Royal Academy of Physicians and eventually joined the ranks of the Fellows of the Royal Academy. He moved to England in 1959 to complete his residency at Halifax General Hospital where he met and married his first wife, Dorothy Shackleton in 1964. They had two children, Sanjay and Tara.

Dr. Kumar came to the United States in 1964 to join the faculty at Harvard Medical School as a Research Fellow. He continued his career in medical practice and education by joining the teaching faculty at Northwestern University School of Medicine in 1970. He established a successful private practice in Corona, California in 1982 and married his second wife Judy Speak. He retired from full time medical practice in 2005.

Medicine was very much his life’s work and his deep love. After a full career of medical practice, medical education, and medical scholarship, Dr. Kumar continued to read his beloved New England Journal of Medicine and do specialized consulting, especially in cardiology (where his published research continues to be recognized).

Outside of his medical practice, Dr. Kumar loved reading classical literature and history, listening to classical music, and traveling—collecting stories from all over Europe, Russia, India, and Canada. He developed a taste for the world’s cuisine, becoming an excellent chef in his own right, thrilling the family with lavish Indian meals, French and Italian classics, racks of lamb, and Yorkshire Pudding. Above all, he enjoyed the flourishing and accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.

He will be remembered for his medical brilliance, his providence for his family, and for many years of devoted marriage.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Speak; children Sanjay Kumar (Elizabeth O'Toole) and Tara Campanella (Franco Campanella); brother, Anil Trikha (Gauri Trikha); sister, Dolly Trikha; grandchildren, Zachary Kumar, Samuel Kumar, Lucas Campanella, Justin Speak (Ryan Speak); great grandchildren, Jude Speak, Luca Speak; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family will host a memorial service on November 13th, at 4:00 pm at:

Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park

1625 Gisler Ave, Costa Messa, CA 92626,

Tel # 714-540-5554