Dr. Vishwa Singh

Dr. Vishwanath Singh passed away on June 17th, 2023, after 86 years of an extraordinary life. Dr. Singh’s life was marked by his relentless sense of dignity, determination, and devotion to family. He was born in Ahan, a village in northeastern India, that to this day still has no running water or electricity. He was inspired by a dream of education and achieving a modern life, and through sheer determination and force of will, found a way to get an education. He literally walked miles to nearby towns to go to school, before progressing towards higher education. With determination and hard work, he completed his undergraduate education at Lucknow University, and then earned a PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at University of Delhi. It was there that he met the love of his life, Dr. Malathy Singh, who also was a PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. They formed a true lifelong love and partnership, though remarkable for the time, since they were from different regions and castes in India. When apart they would send daily letters to each other, sharing their love and dreams for the future. They had two children, and were able to eventually immigrate to the United States in 1978. Dr. Malathy Singh joined the faculty of Columbia University, while Dr. Vishwa Singh began a career at the pharmaceutical company Roche, where he would eventually become Director of Human Nutrition Research. Theirs was a classic immigrant success story. They arrived with little but their suitcases, but worked hard and saved to provide their children with opportunity. Thanks to their hard work, both their children, Ravi and Dinakar, graduated from Ivy League colleges, and eventually both became partners at Goldman Sachs. Tragically, Malathy Singh died of ovarian cancer in 1994, leaving Dr. Singh a widower. However, despite this tragedy, he delighted in witnessing his family, and especially his grandchildren, grow and thrive in years ahead. He lived with his family for the last twenty years of his life, even while battling Parkinson’s Disease in his recent years. He is survived by his two sons, and his five grandchildren, for whom his life, and his love for them, remains an extraordinary inspiration and blessing. In the words of the Indian poet and Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, “No, shed no tears, for I need them not, all I need is your smile. If you feel sad, think of me, for that’s what I’d like. When you live in the hearts of those you love, remember then…you never die”.

A visitation for Vishwa will be held Thursday, June 29, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028.