KISHOR LADHUBHAI MODHA

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KISHOR LADHUBHAI MODHA

December 30, 1943 - April 12, 2026

Following a brief illness brought on by metastatic thyroid cancer, Kishor Ladhubhai Modha of Winnipeg, Manitoba, peacefully passed away surrounded by loved ones on April 12, 2026. He was 82 years old.

Kishor was born in Kakira, Uganda, on December 30, 1943, to Ladhubhai and Gomatiben Modha. He spent his childhood in Ramisi, Kenya, before attending boarding school in Mombasa. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Nairobi, followed by a master's degree in zoology at Makerere University in Kampala. Drawn early to the natural world and the inherent beauty of all living things, his work as a wildlife biologist at Queen Elizabeth National Park reflected a patient attentiveness and an ability to observe and understand life in its purest moments.

Forced to leave the country he was proud to call his homeland, Kishor and his newlywed wife Divya departed Uganda as refugees during the Asian Exodus and landed on the US Eastern Seaboard for a few years before deciding to emigrate to Winnipeg, where other family members had settled. Immediately after arriving in Canada in 1975, Kishor was offered an opportunity to turn his photography hobby into a career by opening a Sooter’s Studio franchise in Thompson, Manitoba. Over the next twenty-five years, he would gain national acclaim as a skilled photographer and, at the height of his success, expand to three additional studios in Winnipeg. Through his lens, he captured the milestones of countless families and individuals, creating work that was both technical and deeply human, grounded in a belief that every life held something worth celebrating and remembering.

Never one to stand still, Kishor embraced yet another transformation later in life by joining his nephews, Ashish and Prashant, and their partner Raj Bahl, as a human resources executive at Mondetta Clothing. There, he became a steady, trusted presence, known for his fairness, insight, and genuine care for those around him.

In his later years, his focus turned increasingly toward giving back and his efforts helped establish Mondetta Charity Foundation, dedicating his time and energy to improving the lives of others, specifically the children of East Africa who, through no fault of their own, were the most vulnerable victims of poverty, violence, and the AIDS epidemic that has adversely affected millions across the African continent. Helping children in need by empowering future generations to overcome dire circumstances and break the cycle of poverty became Kishor’s and the organization’s guiding principle. It was, in many ways, the natural culmination of a life guided by empathy and purpose.

Kishor is survived by his wife, Divya; his sons, Anand and Premal (Jenna); his brother, Labhu (Pushpa); his nephews, Prashant (Elena), Ashish (Chalnessa), Pratik (Laurie), Ronuk (Mandy), Ashok (Stephanie), and Kamlesh (Manisha); and his nieces, Geeta (Mike), Beejal (Jay), Alka, and Sharda. Watching Prashant’s sons, Jasper and Sasha, and Ashish’s daughter, Anika, grow up was one of the greatest joys of his life. Indeed, he considered them, and all of his nephews’ and nieces’ children his grandchildren, and they, in turn, affectionately knew him as their Dada or Nana. Kishor is also survived by a large extended family here in Winnipeg, Toronto, and in the UK.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Thompson in the Park Funeral Home and Cemetery located at 1291 McGillivary Boulevard in Winnipeg. Family, friends, and well-wishers are welcome to attend to honour and celebrate Kishor’s life. Shanti Path prayers will be held that evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Hindu Temple, 999 St. Anne’s Road.

The Modha family would like to convey their sincere appreciation for the care, treatment, and support provided by the medical team at GH6, Health Sciences Centre.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mondetta Charity Foundation in Kishor’s memory via the CanadaHelps.org website.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 17, 2026