PROVIDENCE, RI–Prof. Ram Gupta, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, family man and distinguished community leader, passed away on July 22, 2022.
Born on March 22, 1940, he grew up in Jhansi, India and after becoming an engineer he emigrated to the U.S. by way of Liberia. Upon completing his Ph.D. in New York, he brought his young family to settle in Rhode Island as he set off to chart a celebrated career as a faculty member at Roger Williams University in 1981 and retiring in 2018 as Professor Emeritus.
He taught generations of engineering and architecture students in courses that ranged from fluid dynamics and sustainable energy systems to water resources and geotechnical engineering. An author of multiple books and academic publications, Dr. Gupta was also a Fulbright scholar, a Rotary International Foundation Scholar, and a visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Kathmandu University, and Galgotias University.
Alongside his successful academic career, he devoted his time to building and leading the Indian community in Rhode Island. Known with respect and affection as Gupta-ji, he worked tirelessly over four decades and led the Indian Association of Rhode Island (IARI), founded the Hindi School of Rhode Island (HARI), and contributed to the establishment of the Rhode Island Hindu Temple (RIHTS).
The high regard and esteem that everyone held for him was always felt by his family. Among his many talents, he had a passion for Hindi literature, and he regularly published poetry, short stories, scripts and presided over literary gatherings.
Dr. Gupta will be deeply mourned by his family, friends, and colleagues. He is survived by his wife Saroj Gupta, his children Apurv, Sukirti, and Sudipti, his daughter and sons-in-law Anupama, TD, and Nikki, and his grandchildren Ayush, Sanaa, Anika, Vanika, Milan, Amara, as well as his extended family in India.
Guptaji was loved by all and will be missed and remembered forever. His legacy and devotion to community building and selfless service to the Indian diaspora will live on as a shining example for future generations.
Funeral services will be held on 7/28/22 @ 9:30am at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick, RI 02893.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dr. Gupta’s two dedicated causes, the Rhode Island Hindu Temple (RIHTS; https://www.rihts.org/) and the Hindi School of Rhode Island (HARI; http://www.harischool.com/).
