Dr. Dharam S. Dhindsa

Dr. Dharam Singh Dhindsa died peacefully in Rockville, Maryland on October 25, 2018 at the age of 83.

Dr. Dhindsa is survived by his wife, Dr. Ragwinder Kaur Dhindsa Ph.D., sons Dr. Hardeep S. Dhindsa, Dr. Harinder S. Dhindsa, and Ranjit S. Dhindsa, Esq., daughter-in-laws, Shilpa and Rachel, brothers Kharam S. Dhindsa and Harbans S. Dhindsa and six grandchildren, Ryan, Kyle, Justin, Isabelle, Dylan and Nicole. He is preceded in death by his parents, Thakar Singh Dhindsa, and Chand Kaur Dhindsa.

Dr. Dharam S. Dhindsa was born on November 25, 1934 in Kharar, India, a small farming village in Punjab. He completed his degree in Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) in India. In 1961, he married Ragwinder (Ravi) Kaur Sekhon, and soon after immigrated to the United States to pursue his studies at Montana State University, and subsequently at the University of Illinois. After obtaining his Ph.D. at Illinois, he pursued his post-doctoral work at the Oregon Health Sciences University.

In 1975, the family moved to Rockville, Maryland when Dr. Dhindsa accepted a job at the National Institutes of Health. He rapidly ascended the ranks at NIH, and after 36 years, retired as Deputy Chief of the Surgical Sciences, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Integrated Review group (IRG) in the Center for Scientific Review.

Professionally, Dharam enjoyed advocating for the funding of rigorous well-designed scientific research. He worked with his colleagues to serve and inspire some of the nation’s leading scientists as they pursued federal funds to support and advance their research interests and consequently improve the healthcare of all Americans.  

His three sons fondly remember him as a great father and provider, as well as a great Sikh American who had a strong influence on their academic development while encouraging them to pursue their goals. He had a passion for indoor and outdoor gardening that he loved to share with his children, grandchildren, friends, and colleagues. He regularly attended activities and worked out at Montgomery County’s North Potomac Recreation Center.

Personally, he enjoyed world travel and claimed his trip to Australia to be one of his favorites. His grandchildren will all agree that their Grandpa loved to garden and travel to visit with them as often as he could. Dr. Dhindsa was an active and dedicated member of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation in North Potomac, as well as the Guru Nanak Foundation in Silver Spring. 

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dharam Dhindsa’s life. A funeral service is scheduled for 3 pm, November 4, 2018 at Donaldson Funeral Home. There will be a prayer and langar service to follow at Guru Gobind Singh Foundation starting at 6:30 pm (13814 Travilah Rd, North Potomac, MD 20878).

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to one of two organizations that Dharam loved and supported: 1) The Guru Gobind Singh Foundation at http://www.ggsfusa.org/donate.html; and 2) the Sikh Human Development Foundation at http://www.shdf.org/. Both organizations are doing remarkable work to improve the human condition in many different ways.

The family would like to thank the Doctors and Caregivers at Shady Grove Rehab Center for the care they provided to our father and for the countless friends, who visited, called, and prayed. A special thank you to Dr. Jatinder S. Sekhon for all of his support and care for Dharam Dhindsa in recent years, and especially through this challenging journey in the last year and a half.

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