Harivadan Kapadia

Harivadan (Hari) Kapadia, age 85, passed away peacefully at his home on December 15, 2020. 

Born in Gandevi, Gujarat, India Hari graduated from the University of Baroda with a BS degree in Economics and Statistics. In his professional life in India, Hari worked as a Professor at Sardar Patel University and authored several books in finance and economics. After immigrating to the United States in 1969, he settled with his family in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Hari continued to further his education in the United States obtaining an MBA in finance and the certification of Chartered Financial Analyst. Shortly after coming to the United States, he began a career with Wright Investors’ Service, Inc. that spanned 51 years. He started there in the role of an Analyst and later became Senior Vice President. He led the opening of Wright’s first offices in Ireland and India. After his retirement from Wright Investors’ Service at the age of 65, Hari continued an affiliation with Wright in the role of a consultant until his final days. After retiring, he realized he enjoyed his work too much to give it up completely.

Hari had many personal interests and passions. He was a champion badminton player and enjoyed playing cricket and cards. He had a love for singing and acting. He took on leading roles in performances at community theatrical events. It was during one of his performances in a play that he caught the attention of Hansa, who became his wife of 38 years until her passing in 1999. He also had a love for teaching and writing. Prior to his retirement from Wright, he taught as an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of Business at Fairfield University. He also regularly authored essays and short stories for different Gujarati publications even into his final years. Hari enjoyed cheering on the New York Yankees and watching tennis Grand Slams.    

Hari was a people person and was the happiest when surrounded by a large group of family and friends. His homes in India and the United States were always open to his extended family and many friends from near and far. He loved parties and often broke into song with his favorite -- So Sahl Pehle Muje Tum Se Pyar Tha. In his retirement years, much to his joy, he was able to spend several months a year at his home in Navsari, India, allowing him to spend time with his brothers and other family members and friends in India. He was a member of many civic and social groups in the United States and India. Hari and Hansa were active members of the Gujarati Samaj and Bhajan group in Connecticut.    

Hari had a strong commitment to community, charity, family and duty, and lived his core belief that “service to mankind is service to God.” Throughout his life in the United States, he helped many Indian families new to the United States to establish themselves and build a life here. Whether it was giving them a place to live, transportation, driving lessons or assistance in finding a job, he devoted his time and opened his home to the large community of which he was a part. Hari and Hansa were first among their respective siblings to settle in the United States. They sponsored their siblings and facilitated their families’ transitions to the United States so they too could have the opportunity to pursue their American dream.         

In 1991 Hari became involved in the mission of the Narendra Jamnadas Damania Clinic, located in his hometown of Gandevi, with a donation to create the first Pathology Laboratory for the Clinic. In the years that followed, he engaged in significant fundraising along with many community members with the goal of expanding the Clinic. The goal came to fruition in 1998 with the conversion of the Clinic into the N.J. Damania Sarvajanik Hospital. He continued with his fundraising efforts in the years that followed and donated his own funds for various facilities for the Hospital. The Hospital is now a 55-bed facility with a surgical center offering services in every major area of medicine, including even a nursing home component and medical school. Hari considered his contributions to the success of the Hospital project one of his most important life accomplishments. Hari continued to regularly visit the Hospital in his final years and even helped with its management.

In 2000, Hari transitioned from Connecticut to California when he married Manjula. Hari is survived by Manjula and his and Hansa’s five daughters, Harini, Heena, Bhakti, Niti and Lal, his grandchildren, Shamir, Jordan, Jules, Trevor, Drew, Jacob, Connor, Chloe and Reese, and step daughters, Bina and Kavita.  

Due to the current Covid 19 situation, there is no memorial service or funeral scheduled at this time. In memory of Hari’s life, please consider making a donation to The American Cancer Society at Cancer.org or mail in a donation to P.O. Box 42040 Oklahoma City, OK 73123

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