Burde Laxminarayan Kamath

He grew up in Mangalore, Karnataka, India in a large and loving extended family. His siblings say that he was just as helpful, thoughtful, and respectful in his youth as he was as an adult. As the eldest son, he wanted to take care of everyone, offering advice and showing by example how to stay connected, even after he left home at an early age to pursue his education.

Burde attended Canara High School and Banaras Hindu University in India before immigrating to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in pharmacokinetics at SUNY Buffalo. After earning his doctorate, he worked at Revlon in Yonkers, NY and Arnar Stone in Chicago, IL. He ultimately decided to utilize his knowledge to educate the next generation of pharmacists and became a professor at Xavier University College of Pharmacy, New Orleans, working there for 25 years until he retired. Alongside his teaching and research responsibilities at Xavier, he did pharmaceutical consulting and clinical trial research. After retirement, he volunteered with deaf and mute children at Jyoti Children’s Development Foundation in Kanpur, India.

Burde and his wife, Urmila, have been members of the Indian community in New Orleans for over 40 years and shared a passion of introducing Indian culture and music to everyone in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. He was an active member of the Indian Arts Circle of New Orleans and formerly of the Art of Living. He took special enjoyment in his children’s involvement in music, whether it was hosting Indian classical music and dance recitals at Xavier or walking alongside their middle school marching bands in Mardi Gras parades. In particular, Burde’s love of music brought him peace in the difficult last few years since being diagnosed with vascular dementia.

Burde was active in the Konkani community in North America and kept up with family and friends all over the US, Canada, and India. He was well-known for taking road trips around the US to visit old friends – sometimes on short notice, but always welcomed! He helped many people and families, especially new Indian immigrants to Buffalo, Chicago, and New Orleans, from dispensing advice to teaching them how to drive. He also regularly visited and helped his family in India. His nieces said, “He was like a giant tree that offered shade and rest to everyone who crossed his path.”

Burde was preceded in death by his parents, Panduranga and Viraja, and his brother Madhusudhan. He is survived by his wife Urmila, his children Meghana Hemphill (Timothy) and Mithun (Callie), grandchildren Neel and Arthi Hemphill, siblings Narasimha, Chitra, Malini, and Rajesh, many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and numerous friends around the world.

Burde’s remains will be cremated in a small ceremony with immediate family. A remembrance will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Jyoti Children’s Development Foundation at https://www.jyotiforchildren.org/us/donate-now