Affectionately known to his family as Papa, Dr. Munesh Ahluwalia's extraordinary journey here on Earth ended on June 28th, 2023, at the age of eighty-seven after a full and impactful life.

Papa was a man of strong faith who embodied acceptance and gratitude. Notwithstanding his remarkable accomplishments, he was the most humble of beings. Even so, Papa was incredibly proud of the family from which he came, as well as the one he created with Tarveen, his wife of fifty-eight years.

He grew up in Delhi, India with his three late sisters, Samlita, Karvita, and Aneeta, each whom he fiercely respected and cherished deeply. He was also very close with his parents, Rajeshwar and Kaushalya.

Following in his father's footsteps, Papa set off to become a pathologist. He attended Amritsar Medical College and AIIMS, the esteemed All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. His commitment to academics remained steadfast as he studied at times standing on one leg to avoid falling asleep and other times in the closet with a flashlight in the middle of the night. Rest assured, he enjoyed some fun experiences during his schooling as well and even came to be known as "Strongha Singh" after a momentous med school tug-of-war match.

In 1963, he headed to Cook County Hospital's Hektoen Institute as one of India's only two Fulbright Scholars in medicine that year.

He returned to India and married Tarveen in nineteen sixty-five. Ready to experience everything America had to offer, Papa brought Tarveen to the states, and the two began their life together in their Chicago apartment on Lake Shore Drive. Before long, they were living the suburban life with their three daughters, Arlina, Jasbina, and Riku, whose lives Papa filled with adventure, support, and humor. He and Tarveen surrounded their family with close friends that formed a community Papa revered and held dear.

In Papa's distinguished career as a pathologist, he focused on blood diseases and conducted thousands of autopsies before being called to internal medicine, a field in which he championed preventative healthcare in caring for his patients. With his daily headstands and disciplined eating routines, Papa practiced what he preached. A true intellectual who was often teaching in every context, he was also an insatiable learner.

The consummate gentleman and host, Papa never missed a social gathering or an opportunity for lively conversation and debate. In his love of discourse, he had a knack for engaging others in just about any topic. When he wasn't spotted chatting and "solving world problems," he could often be found on the dance floor because Papa couldn't resist a good beat.

He drove fast cars and loved photography. Perhaps the only thing he liked more than hamming it up for the camera himself was snapping pics of Tarveen at scenic destinations on their many travels.

As founding member of the Mutual Admiration Society, Papa was known to tell a good joke (albeit not always clean). He was an exemplary wordsmith who used his gift for written expression personally and professionally. Like his mother, Papa loved dogs and innately nurtured them.

His faith was a part of his identity, as was his gentle nature and passion for medicine. His passing has left a void in the hearts of many, and he will be sorely missed. He is survived by Tarveen; Arlina and her boys Arjum and Baadj; Jasbina, her husband Rajnish, and their children Diya and Ayan; and Riku, her husband Ryan, and their son Bazil.

An intimate cremation and kirtan service is being held for Papa in the San Francisco Bay Area where he passed, and in August, a celebration of life and kirtan service will be held in Chicago.

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation to:

Scrubs Addressing the Firearm Epidemic (SAFE) at https://www.standsafe.org/ in honor of Papa's commitment to safety and deep respect for the sanctity of human life.

or

The Research Autopsy Collaboration at Stanford at https://med.stanford.edu/racs.html in honor of Papa's conviction about the value of the contributions made by each and every autopsy to our body of medical knowledge.