Shobha Akerkar

Shobha Anand Akerkar, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed peacefully on November 12 in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

Born on March 19, 1941 to Nilkanth and Usha Dalvi in Sawantwadi, Shobha grew to be a gifted athlete, dancer and chemist. She studied classical Indian dance, performing in festivals in India and later New York.She played many sports, including langdi, badminton, table tennis, and tennis, and in high school, she excelled at running, becoming the top sprinter in the Indian State of Maharashtra. Her athleticism led to leadership positions in the National Cadet Corps--the youth branch of the Indian Armed Forces. In 1964, she was asked to lead a military parade in Delhi for Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

In the 1960s, she earned a bachelor degree from Ruparel College and a masters degree in chemistry from Parle College (now Sathaye College) in Mumbai. There she met Anand, and for a time they were both teachers. After Anand accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in New York, she moved and devoted herself to her children Geetanjali and Sanket. After her mother passed away, her younger sister Sangita joined her in New York and lived with the family. As a first-generation Indian American, she honored her cultural heritage as one of the founding members and President of the New York Maharashtra Mandal Foundation.
From 1986 to 2004, she returned to chemistry as a research scientist at the American Health Foundation, investigating the health effects of smoking. A strong proponent of physical wellness, she organized an aerobics club for her work colleagues.

One of her grandest gestures was dedicating years of her time to the care of each of her children and grandchildren. In 2013, Shobha and Anand moved to Carlisle, MA, where she found friends at the Council on Aging, Senior Zumba, Cardio Aerobics and local bridge games.

Shobha was a pillar of all her communities, bringing her family, friends and strangers together with her seemingly boundless kindness. She will be deeply missed by many.

Throughout her life, she brought joy to her surviving husband Anand Akerkar, her children Geetanjali and Sanket, their spouses Russell and Anita, her grandchildren (Neil, Avi, Amar, Sejal, Avani) and her siblings Dilip and Sangita.

Following Hindu tradition, the family will be in a period of mourning for 13 days. A celebration of her life is planned after December 15. Please reach out to the family about the details.

In lieu of flowers, the Akerkar family appreciates donations in her memory to be sent directly to the following organizations:

● American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org
● Care Dimensions: www.caredimensions.org
● Udayan Shalini Fellowship: www.udayancare.org www.udayancareusa.org

The Akerkar family is most grateful for the outpouring of support from family and friends during this very difficult and challenging time.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Manchester. To view Shobha's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com