Obituary of Soumitra Ghoshroy

Soumitra Ghoshroy of Columbia, SC passed away on February 19th, 2024 at the age of 63. He was at home and surrounded by his family after ending a brave battle with cancer.

Soumitra was born in Kolkata, India, to parents Sati Bhushan and Manikuntala Ghoshroy. At the tender age of 5, Soumitra began his journey towards his musical passion, studying at the Dakshini School of Music. He was also trained in the songs of Bengali polymath, Rabindranath Tagore, under Subinoy Roy. He was deeply inspired by his older sister in his early years as she herself was already an accomplished musician.

Graduating in 1985 with Botany honors, he attended the Presidency College (now University) in Kolkata and went on to receive his Master’s in Biological Sciences from Illinois State University followed by his PhD in Plant Biology from the University of New Hampshire. He then received post-doctoral trainings through Brandeis University, Harvard University, State University of NY Stonybrook, and University of Arizona.

Following his educational journey, Soumitra continued within the world of higher academia to serve as the Electron Microscopy Lab Director and a Research Professor at New Mexico State University for 8 years, then continued this role at the University of South Carolina for the last 17 years until his passing. He is fondly remembered by the plethora of students and faculty members he influenced, both personally and professionally. His mentorship and breadth of knowledge paved the careers for so many throughout his life. His colleagues at the University of South Carolina will miss his friendly demeanor, dedication to his students, and incomparable work ethic on campus.

In his lifetime, Soumitra continued to share his love for Indian classical music with family and friends. He blessed many with the soul and comfort heard in his singing voice at many locales, from intimate family gatherings to a published album with the accompaniment of his wife’s mellifluous vocals. His music will live on with all who have the privilege of hearing it.

He was the beloved husband of Kajal and a loving father to Mrinalini and Shayon. He is also survived by his older brother, Subrata, and older sister, Sumitra, along with numerous family members and friends who will miss him dearly.

Soumitra lived a life filled with warmth, kindness, and dedication to his family. He was known for his gentle demeanor, unforgettable smile, and passion for music and microscopy. He was a friend to all he met and could easily form meaningful connections with people from various backgrounds. His legacy will be the valued relationships he made through his life, producing endless stories and memories for generations to come.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 2nd in Charleston, South Carolina. In place of flowers, please donate in his memory to the World Wildlife Fund or the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for research into Leiomyosarcoma.

Sincerely,

The Ghoshroy Family