Dr. Gurdial Mal Sharma

Our dear father, Dr. Gurdial Mal Sharma passed away peacefully surrounded by his family from all over the country and India.  He is survived by his wife Aruna, three daughters: Sarita Sharma Croce, Neelima Sharma and Shobha Sharma Vohra, his two Son-In-Laws: Steve Croce and Vijay Vohra, and his five grandchildren: Balmikki Sharma Croce, Phillip Sharma Croce, Hannah Sharma Croce, Sonia Sharma Vohra, Asha Sharma Vohra, sister Shakuntla Sharma & many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Sharma was born on November 11th 1930 in Punjab India, the 5th of 7 children to Ram Ditta Sharma & Rattan Devi Sharma, he grew up in Pathankot, India.  He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Punjab University in 1960.  He will always be remembered as a great athlete playing volleyball and boxing.  While in college Dr. Sharma qualified for the Olympic men’s Indian Volleyball Team.

Following his graduation from Punjab University, he married his wife, Aruna Avasthi, now Aruna Sharma, who traveled with him to Ottawa Canada where he was a Post Doctorial Fellow at the National Research Council.

In 1965 Dr. Sharma, Mrs. Sharma & their first daughter Sarita came to the United States where he worked at The Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University. In his 11 years working at Columbia, he directed research on marine biology and published his findings in numerous scholarly journals. While at Lamont Dr. Sharma and Mrs. Sharma had two daughters, Neelima and Shobha.

From 1976 – 1980, Dr. Sharma was head of the Chemical and Biological Oceanography Department of the New York Ocean Science Laboratory, Long Island, Montauk, NY. In 1988, he was appointed Full Professor at William Patterson University. He spent the remainder of his career researching and teaching his love for Chemistry to generations of students at the University.  During his tenure, he also served as the Chemistry Department Chair.  After a very successful 53 year career Dr. Sharma decided to retire in 2014 at the age 83.

In his life, Dr. Sharma has published many papers in the areas of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Chemical/Biological Oceanography. Through that research he had the opportunity to travel to Quebec Canada, Italy, Australia, Norway, & India to present his research.

Outside of being academically acclaimed, Dr. Sharma was incredibly loved by his family, friends & colleagues. He enjoyed time spent reading, playing the tabla’s (Indian drums) & time with his children, grandchildren, and friends. Some of the fondest memories spent with him will be those traveling with his family, having wonderful family gatherings filled with wonderful conversation and laughter.

Dr. Sharma was extraordinarily generous and a friend to all those in need of friendship. He was unbelievably kind but more importantly he was passionate. A trait that will live on through his 3 daughters.

Dr. Sharma will be remembered as an amazing husband, father & grandfather who lived life to its fullest!