Dr. Ishwarlal V. Lodhia

Ishwarlal “Ishu” Lodhia died Friday, June 27th at the age of 76, leaving behind 234,516 used masala tea bags, all 27 Robert Ludlum novels, and a steady drumbeat of Indian classical music.

Ishu is survived by his loyal and dedicated wife, Bhadra. She was the love of his life, a fact evident to anybody who met them and experienced the type of bickering reserved for those who have been together for 50 years of marriage.

Ishu left behind two children he loved with all his heart: a son, Nilesh, who proudly followed his career path, and a daughter, Pooja, whom he would often send emails to like, “You will always be my little girl as always!” Ishu is survived by a grandson, Sachin, whose mere existence brought him joy every minute of the nine years they were fortunate to spend together. Ishu will be greatly missed by his sister, Kusum; brother, Kishore; and sister, Vasanti. Another sibling, Dinesh, preceded him in death last year.

Ishu was born in Mbale, Uganda on December 12, 1948 to Vallabhdas and Hemkuwer Lodhia. As a teenager, Ishu boarded a ship to India, bravely leaving behind his family in hopes of opportunity. He completed college and medical school in Mumbai, and somehow found the time to furtively date his future wife. The unlikely couple moved to the United States in 1978, where Ishu practiced Cardiology for more than three decades.

Ishu loved listening to and playing music, often performing tabla, harmonium, keyboard, and piano at religious events and parties.

But, his best performances weren’t in public.

If you were ever stopped at a red light and saw a curly haired man emphatically performing a drum solo on his steering wheel, it was probably Ishu.

He loved reading fiction, especially mystery novels, sharing books with his daughter throughout her childhood and adult life. Ishu was the type of person who always won carnival games (even the rigged ones), who visited an alligator farm so often that he was given a free lifetime pass, and who excelled in Dad Jokes, especially at inappropriate times. He detested Taco Bell, clichés, and all vegetables (except for potatoes). Most importantly, Ishu knew what mattered most was time with his family, whether at home or on the many international trips he enjoyed planning.

We were the light of his life and we knew it.

He made sure we knew it, every day.

Funeral services will be held at 7:30 am Wednesday, July 2, at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple.