Dr. Jagannath Prasad Sharma

Dr. Jagannath Prasad Sharma – beloved father, grandfather, entomologist, and humble Renaissance man – departed on May 28, 2015. He was born to Ram Chandra Sharma and Janki Devi Sharma, farmers in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Dr. Sharma was raised by his maternal grandmother and uncles and left his village to pursue higher education in science. He was an accomplished wrestler, field hockey player, and soccer player in his college years. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Agra University and his Ph.D. in Entomology from Meerut University, U.P., where he became a professor. Dr. Sharma was married to Dr. Kamal Sharma, the love of his life, for 56 years. He authored and illustrated the first agricultural entomology textbook in the Hindi language, called Krishi Keet Vigyan. Unfortunately, a plagiarized version of his book received a national award from the president of India in 1979.

Dr. Sharma’s highest priority was caring for his family as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He loved gardening, painting, poetry, and hunting. As a talented artist, he designed and led the construction of the family home in Muzzafarnagar, UP. A confident man of tall stature and athletic build, he took great pride in being the family’s protector. As a grandfather, he cooked delicious meals, sewed entire outfits, and tutored his grandchildren in all subjects.

Dr. Sharma is survived by his daughters, Priti (Ajay) Pathak, Niti (Ranjan) Thakur, Shaili (Sanjeev) Deveshwar and Ritu (Dhiresh) Joshi; and six grandchildren: Priyanka and Saumya Pathak, Jay Thaker, Shaun Deveshwar, and Neil and Ria Joshi. He will always be remembered as a patient teacher and ardent feminist, with a surprising sense of humor and boundless creativity.

On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com