Dr Geeta Roy passed away at SUNY Upstate Medical Center on Wednesday, November 11 at 12:15pm. She had been battling metastatic cancer for 19 months. She is survived by her husband Ajoy and her son Preyas, as well as her sisters Rita Sinha and Gayatri Sharma. She was pre-deceased by her son Shreyas Roy.
She was born in Patna, Bihar (India) in 1952 to a politically active family. Her father, Basawon Singh, was a prominent leader of the Indian independece movement as well as a leader of Indian labor organizations. Her mother, Kamala Sinha, was also a labor leader, as well as a member of Indian parliament, and ultimately, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for the government of India.
Geeta attended St. Joseph's Convent School and Patna Medical College. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, NY. She began her medical practice in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Syracuse, NY in 1983. Over the next twenty five years she delivered more than 4000 babies. She had a deep interest in the lives and well being of her patients, many of whom regarded her as family. She continued to practice until cancer forced her retirement in 2019.
Geeta was bright, positive, kind, generous, and energetic. She could talk to anyone, and loved making new friends, even to the very end of her life. She was a humanist with a big heart, who welcomed everybody into her heart and home. She was a pillar of her social, professional, cultural, religious, and educational communities. She was an avid reader, and a phenomenal cook. She was an accomplished professional, as well as a devoted wife, mother, and daughter. She was a loving friend. Her massive presence will be missed by many.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was cremated in a private ceremony. A memorial will be held once social distancing guidelines are eased.