Jayantilal P Patel

Jayantilal Purushottamdas Patel, born on July 1 1929 in Ode, passed away in his sleep on March 2 2025 as the sun rose over Las Vegas. He enjoyed his final days fully present, resolute, and lucid surrounded by his family before he was granted the comfortable, dignified, peaceful passing he requested and deserved.

The name “Jayantilal” means “victorious” and is associated with a kind heart, prosperity, strength, a powerful intellect, and powerful ambition: all of which JP thoroughly embodied during his time with us. To Papa, ‘victory’ or ‘success’ would likely mean providing the foundation for a strong family unit wherein each member is able to achieve their highest potential. From our perspective, Dada was the most happy and victorious when surrounded by his family, whom he worked so hard for.

Jayantilal was the son of a timber merchant, the eldest of 5 siblings, our family’s “Motabhai”. He sought training as a chemist at the LM College of Pharmacy in Ahmedabad - during which he married his wife Lalita, in Uttarsanda, on May 17 1949 (Vaishakh Vadi 5 of Samvat 2005 per the original wedding invitations he kept in his blue briefcase until the end). He traveled to England and Scotland to be certified in his ability to practice pharmacy. JP was a resourceful, economical, and adventurous man; he and his friends took a road trip around Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Holland in 1952, buying a car from the factory in Dagenham and selling it for a profit upon return 6 weeks later. He navigated new languages, cultures, friendships and cultivated wisdom as he established his professional and familial life in Kampala, Uganda and later Nairobi, Kenya. Papa was prudent and insightful enough to move the family to England in the early 1960s following Kenya’s independence, where he was able to provide his children and grandchildren the lives, opportunities, and luxuries he dreamed of. He opened his pharmacy in Doddinghurst, Essex UK in 1971, where he and Lalita worked to serve the local community and win their hearts until granting his sons’ request that he retire at the age of 60. Dada continued to keep his mind sharp, helping with his sons’ pharmacy, nursing home, and cardiology practice while devouring news and current events from several daily international newspapers, TV programs, and his iPad. He kept his body active, doting on grandchildren and taking walks with family, well past his 95th birthday. He enjoyed standing in the Pacific Ocean watching the fishes and whales in February 2025.

Jayantilal was a true patriarch, consistently working and sacrificing, elevating and supporting his family across the world whenever and however he could. He traveled on steamships and airplanes, to and from Ode, Baroda, Brentwood, Streatham, Leicester, New Jersey, Illinois, Nevada, California, and many more places, fighting through seasickness and back pain to witness his siblings, children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, grandnephews, grandnieces seek happiness and self-fulfillment of their own.

Having accomplished these most significant victories in life, Jayantilal achieved true Self-Actualization and has continued on his Path. We are all fortunate to have been touched by his love, wisdom, humor, and morality; and luckier to carry his legacy, memory, and stories with us for “Future Generations” (to borrow one of JP’s favorite phrases and motivations).

Jayantilal was preceded by his father Purushottamdas, mother Dahiba, wife Lalita, brother Sureshbhai, and daughter, who all await him in Moksha. He is survived by his sister Jasuben, his brothers Chandubhai and Rameshbhai, his sons Bharat and Janmejay, his daughters-in-law Urvashi and Bina, his grandchildren Bhavishi, Niyati, Varun, Kuvaal, and Sahil who look forward to reuniting with him.

He is remembered by all who love him and his many names: Jayantilal, Jayanti, Motabhai, JP, Papa, Dada. We miss you and love you. Thank you for everything.

In accordance with Jayantilal’s wishes, we kindly request no gifts or flowers be brought on March 17. If you feel compelled to do something in his memory please donate to your charity of choice under his name.

A visitation for Jayantilal will be held Monday, March 17, 2025 from 8:00 AM to 8:45 AM at Palm Mortuary - Downtown, 1325 North Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89101, followed by a funeral service from 8:45 AM to 10:00 AM. Celebration of Life from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.