In Memoriam

JERRY ZASLOVE

(September 20, 1934 - June 23, 2021)

Jerry Zaslove, professor emeritus in the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Departments of English and Humanities, passed away on June 23rd, 2021. After completing a PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Washington, Jerry taught at SFU from its founding in 1965 to his retirement in 2000. He was a former Chair of the English department and the founding Director, in 1983, of the Institute for the Humanities. 

During his tenure at the Institute for the Humanities, Jerry met Mr. Thakore and thus began a long friendship and association between the Thakore Charitable Foundation and the Institute for the Humanities. Jerry was an ardent supporter of the Thakore Visiting Scholar award and was the principal architect that made the award possible in the Institute for the Humanities. Jerry provided guidance, advice and insight in shaping the structure around the award, and stayed away from the limelight, preferring to work from behind. 

Jerry’s involvement in the Thakore Visiting Scholar Award spanned the entire thirty years that the award has been presented since its inception in 1991. The Thakore Charitable Foundation would like to recognize Jerry’s selfless contribution in helping to make this award possible and his commitment in advancing the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi at SFU. The many members of the Gandhi Jayanti committee, his friends and colleagues fondly remember Professor Jerry Zaslove as a gentleman and a scholar.

DONALD EDWARD GRAYSTON

(August 31, 1939- October 23, 2017)

Don was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop William Coleman of the Diocese of Kootenay on September 8, 1963, and to the priesthood on April 7, 1964. He served as Chaplain at Selkirk College in Castlegar, B.C. and later as Rector of St. George, in Rossland, B.C. Don taught religious studies in the Department of Humanities at Simon Fraser University (SFU) from 1989 to 2004, where he became the Director of the Institute for the Humanities. It is during this time at SFU that Don taught a course titled Religion in Context: Gandhi: Life, Work and Influence. During this time Mr. Thakore was also establishing an endowment in the Institute for the Humanities promoting the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. The coming together of these two individuals was but natural, and this resulted in Don assisting in formatting and laying the foundation of the Thakore Visiting Scholar Award. Don provided many years of service in organizing and acting as the emcee for the annual Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. All who came in contact with him during his time at SFU and the Institute for the Humanities will dearly miss Don. The Thakore Charitable Foundation is indebted to Don for his valuable service to the cause of Mahatma Gandhi, and for helping to promote his ideology.

CHANDRAVADAN BODALIA

(August 29, 1948  –  May  24,  2017)

Mr.Chandravadan Bodalia came to Vancouver in April 1976 from India.  He was a renowned artist and photographer who gave his services free of charge to societies and associations in the lower mainland. We have all known him for the many years of community service he has provided through his countless photographs!  The Gandhi Committee would like to express our sincere tribute to Mr. Bodalia, whose dedication and passion provided us with many memories of the Gandhi Jayanti events through his beautiful photos. His dedicated work will always be remembered by us, and his absence will be very noticeable every October 2nd for years to come.

NARENDRA SURTI 

(March 5, 1945   –   June 29, 2017)

Mr. Narendra Surti came to Vancouver from Zambia in 1991.  He was a successful builder and in his spare time, he gave his service to the Indian community with a smile. Mr. Surti has been a stalwart member of the Gandhi committee for many years! Despite the variable weather conditions, he was always present with a smile guiding people to the parking lot for all Gandhi Jayanti events. Every October 2nd we will fondly remember him for all his humble services!

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