Gangadhar Krishneshwar Dravid

Gangadhar Krishneshwar (G.K.) Dravid, M.D., 84, passed away on May 21, 2021 in New Orleans, LA. He was born to Parvati and Krishneshwar Dravid on December 18, 1936, in Pune, India and had two siblings, Mandakini and Ganesh Dravid. Manda was a tremendous influence in his life, and he often cited her as the source of his strong work ethic, sense of humor, and medical accomplishments. G.K. received his undergraduate degree from Fergusson University and his medical degree from B.J. Medical College. He then moved to the U.S. for a 1-year internship “with $5 in his pocket and the shirt on my back,” as he enjoyed repeating (often) to his children, Aditi and Sanjay. Thereafter, G.K. moved to London in the early 60s where he completed his residency and was inducted into the Royal College of Surgeons.

G.K. married his beloved wife, Vidya Rege, in 1969, and they moved to the U.S. where he completed a second residency in New York City. G.K. had bold dreams and a strong will to succeed. And succeed he did in all respects. His close friends (and medical school peers) regaled listeners with colorful stories of his unparalleled surgical skills and medical knowledge. His professional skills were outmatched only by his kind and generous nature. He was the first person to show up for friends and family in their time of need – stethoscope in hand and his black doctor’s bag – always appearing unannounced and often under the guise of just being in the area.

He seized every opportunity that his new American homeland had to offer. He bought houses, cars, and many other things. He was a man of constant forward movement, and his primary purpose in life was a duty to his family. He had an overwhelming desire to provide his children with opportunities and worked hard to give them the tools to decide for themselves what made them happy. He embraced Christmas by decorating the El Reno house with lights each winter, so his kids could participate in the neighborhood contest. He bought summer passes to White Water so his kids could go down water slides and jump off cliffs. He bought a lake house so his kids could learn to water ski. He enlisted friends to road trip to Colorado so his kids could learn to snow ski. He signed them up for sports, and then spent countless hours rebounding a basketball for Aditi and sent his son to England with his Select soccer team. He took his family on road trips to nearly every state in the continental U.S, so his kids could see the country. And no matter where he was or what he was doing, if he saw another Indian, without a doubt he was going to introduce himself and ask where they were from, because, as much as he embraced his new life, he never ever forgot where he started, or from where he came.

G.K.’s roots were at the core of his every thought, decision, and action. Those humble beginnings manifested as interesting and endearing quirks. Every Christmas, he would pick one shirt or sweater out of his plentiful gifts and wear that item for every single social outing during the year until the next Christmas when he would tag in a new item to be worn during the following year (for years, he forced Vidya to return the rest of his Christmas gifts until she finally quit buying him gifts). Every retailer was subject to his negotiation tactics, particularly the OKC Mercedes dealership. He would never let anyone touch the minibar in hotels. And he never left a restaurant without a doggy bag, even if it meant asking for free bread at the end of a meal.

G.K. instilled in his kids his own strong work ethic and taught them that anything worth having was worth working for – after all, “there is no such thing as a free lunch.”

G.K. was a man of few words. But when he spoke, it was always one of two things. First, a wry quip that made a room full of people laugh (a trait most definitely passed on to his son and both grandsons). Or, second, sage advice on any topic. He knew exactly what to say, when to say it, and did not shy away from offering his opinion.

G.K. had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He could not have been more excited to purchase the Encyclopedia Britannica multi-volume set in the 1980s and was genuinely confused and shocked during the 2018 OKC estate sale when, shocker, no one purchased it.

He always carried himself with confidence and did exactly what he wanted. In recent years, he needed help walking, particularly going up and down stairs. Rather than wait for someone to help him, he often secretly maneuvered himself while no one was watching. Where is Abo, the grandkids would ask. There he was just sitting on the second floor at Aditi’s house watching MSNBC. Where is Abo? There he was (with his walker) two blocks away from their house in New Orleans, so Sanjay would not have to pick him up for a doctor’s appointment. That independence was a hallmark of G.K.’s personality and a trait he passed down to both of his kids and all of the grandkids.

Two years ago, G.K. celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his dear wife, Vidya, and many close friends. Vidya was his partner in life. His true north. Throughout their years together, she doted on him, and he let her! But he gave back in spades as well. The experiences they shared, the countless conversations they had, the decisions they made, and the life they built together over 53 years is difficult to reduce to words. A marriage is a special bond between a husband and wife, but that bond becomes immeasurably stronger when you have moved to a foreign country with nothing, knowing nothing and no one, and, together, built a beautiful life from scratch.

G.K. is survived by his loving wife, Vidya, daughter, Aditi, son, Sanjay, his daughter-in-law, Marlowe, and his grandkids, Rowan, Lily, and Jackson, the light of his life. Friends are the family you choose, and the countless decades-long friends G.K. brought into his life are just that – his family. At the time of his passing, G.K. was content and fulfilled. For the past three years at the end of every holiday, he’d say “well, I’ve had a very full and great life; this will be the last time I see you.” His grandkids would always respond, “see you tomorrow, Abo!” G.K. often repeated to his family that he achieved everything he wanted to in life, was extremely happy with the life he built and the legacy he will be leaving, and that death is merely a fact of life and a natural next step in his journey. He would want these express words to provide comfort to his family and friends as his soul lives on. In the end, his selfless nature exhibited in a uniquely Dravid way shone through brightly.

A private viewing will be held on the morning of Friday, May 28, 2021 beginning at 7:00 a.m., followed by a cremation ceremony in G.K.'s honor.