Amarjeet S. Basra

Amarjeet Singh Basra passed away peacefully at the age of 83 at home with family after a tenacious battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born in Punjab, British India in March 1939, he traversed a war torn country during the partition of Pakistan and India at the age of eight. While studying in the shade of fruit trees on his family’s farm in India, he learned about the use of electricity and was inspired to become an electrical engineer. At age 19, he left with a friend on a steamer from Bombay, India to Naples, Italy and then took trains to London, England, where he lived and worked hard at a number of diverse jobs. In the summer of 1961, with the support of two great friends from grammar school, he flew to and settled near them in Washington D.C. to continue his education and begin his career. On January 9, 1965, he was blessed to marry Sharon Lynn Stewart of Falls Church, VA, who captured and kept his heart from first sight.

A full scholarship from Marquette University for a masters in electrical engineering and employment with Allis-Chalmers took him and Sharon to Milwaukee, WI, where their daughters Rani, Susan and Nancy were born and raised. Promotion with Foster Wheeler brought the family to Livingston, N.J. and then to Ulsan, South Korea, where he helped oversee a multi-year construction project at one of the largest oil refineries in South Korea and all of Asia. He was the owner, CEO and CFO of Kohinoor Electroplating, Inc. in Passaic, N.J. until he and Sharon moved to Annandale, VA, where he attained the position of head engineer of Fairfax County, VA. Active in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) throughout his career and retired life as a member and senior leader, he also regularly mentored high school students, helping to run annual high-school science fairs and competitions, as well as young engineering professionals.

Amarjeet was delighted and energized by family, friends and his profession. Throughout life, he and his family continuously loved, supported, and entertained each other in all circumstances, from deep to “ordinary”. He was endlessly proud of his daughters, and never failed to let them know the depth of his love for them. Amarjeet also regularly and sweetly declared his absolute love for his wife Sharon. His closest friends throughout and at the end of his life were those from grammar school and university. Those friends were and are the same as family. Amarjeet modeled integrity, generosity, resourcefulness, and optimism throughout his life, facing health and other challenges with positive vigor. His beautiful smile reflected his warm personality and his habit of continuous learning made him a wise and interesting father, friend, mentor and conversationalist.

Amarjeet thrived on long talks with family and friends on the phone sitting in “his” special chair, IEEE meetings and leadership activities, great food and quality ice cream, teaching his daughters how to make proper Indian tea, nature walks, and talks and visits with all of his grandchildren. Although a tough restaurant critic, he loved eating out, taking his wife, daughters, and other family and friends to exotic restaurants in Korea, Japan and New York at one end of the culinary spectrum and to simple but authentic Indian buffet at the other.

Amarjeet is survived and beloved by his wife of 58 years, Sharon, his daughters Rani Doyle, Susan Rubino (Robert), Nancy Matchock (Ronald) and the seven grandchildren who were his happiest source of pride: John and Caroline Doyle; Anthony, Abigail and Danielle Rubino; and Samantha (Jake) Kitko and Jacob Matchock. Devoted sister Jagdish Kahlon, brother-in-law Awtar Kahlon, brother Tejpal, sister-in-law Rajinder Basra and numerous loving cousins, nieces and nephews around the globe celebrate Amarjeet’s life and are celebrated by his family. Surviving childhood friends and their wives that provided Amarjeet and his family with love and support for decades and still today include, among others, Basant and Vijay Sood, Jugul and Dinesh Verma, and Mohinder Marwaha and Rani Sekhon. He is joyfully reunited with his beloved son Brian, his parents Avtar Singh Basra and Dhanwant Kaur Bual, his brothers Prithipal, Rajpal and Nirmaljt and in-laws Lillian and Frank Stewart.

The family is deeply grateful to Amarjeet’s compassionate and dedicated caregivers who provided superlative care.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Amarjeet’s name to the IEEE Foundation (select “Ways to Give” and then "Tribute Giving" to indicate a donation in Amarjeet's memory) or mail to: IEEE Foundation, in memory of Amarjeet S. Basra, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ, 08854-4141. In this regard, Rani Doyle is pleased to note the establishment of the annual Amarjeet S. and Sharon L. Basra Merit Scholarship for high school students, to be administered in part by the IEEE Foundation and the Northern Virginia Chapter of the IEEE.