DR. VITHALBHAI J. PATEL

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DR. VITHALBHAI J. PATEL It is with sadness that we announce that Dr. Vithalbhai J. Patel passed away peacefully at 06:00 a.m. CST, Monday, December 25, 2006 at Gimli Betel Home. Dr. V. J. Patel was born in April 11, 1913 in Karamsad, India, completing his medical degree and specialist degree as a gold medalist from Bombay Medical College. He devoted his entire life to the practice of medicine and cardiology, at first at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, and volunteering one day per week at the TB ward. It was at the urging of his close friends and classmates that he ventured abroad to East Africa, establishing a medical practice in Kampala, Uganda from 1957 to 1985. It was there that he faced challenges after the Asian Exodus imposed by President Idi Amin in 1972 which put Uganda back towards economic disaster. Nevertheless he braved staying behind in Kampala where he was revered by all his patients. Fate would deal him another blow in the summer of 1985, when he tragically suffered the loss of his beloved wife and lifetime companion, Shantaben, by gunshot wounds from stray machine gun fire during a coup in war torn Uganda. It was only then that he agreed to leave Uganda, thanks to a welcoming country, Canada where he joined his family. He has since resided in Manitoba, and for the last 10 years in Gimli, Manitoba, where he used to enjoy walking every day along the shores of Lake Winnipeg. He continued to enjoy excellent health and his favourite past-time - reading as many medical journals and books he could lay his hands on. Indeed he was well known at the local library in Gimli and relayed an anecdote about his youngest granddaughter, Anjali. One fine day, Anjali, at the age of eight years, went to the Gimli library to obtain a children's book on loan. She was asked if she had a library card and she promptly said: Yes! When asked for the name under which the library card was registered, she replied: BAPUJI . Unfortunately, to her dismay, no such name was found at the library as the librarian was not aware that Bapuji was the Gujerati word for Dad ! Bapuji's health began to deteriorate after suffering pneumonia induced loss of oxygen and his memory began to fail him. Nevertheless, he was able to share many a story about his experiences as a doctor in Uganda with visitors and residents of the Gimli Betel Home. His family owe a sincere debt of gratitude to all the staff at the Betel Home where they showed a genuine concern for his well-being. A special thank you goes to his doctor, Dr. R. C. Patel of Gimli, who took such good care of him and of course to the nursing staff, the paramedics and all the staff at the Gimli Hospital. After putting on a brave fight, he departed this world on Christmas day in peace with his daughters and sons by his bedside. He leaves behind to mourn his three daughters, Mrs. Arunaben M. Patel of Winnipeg, Dr. Tarangini C. Patel of Louisville, Kentucky, Mrs. Meena S. Amin of Flin Flon, and his two sons, Dr. Sunil V. Patel of Gimli, Manitoba, and Mr. Anil V. Patel of Surrey, UK., and their families and grandchildren and great-grandchildren spread out all over North America. He is survived by his only elder sister, Ms. Kamlaben Amin in Ahmedabad, India. Funeral arrangements are being held at Thompson In the Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1291 McGillivray Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3T 5Y4.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 30, 2006