On the afternoon of August 15th 2026, family and friends gathered to honor Shirish. It was a beautiful gathering that captured his spirit in the most magical way. His presence was felt with every story that was shared, even in silences. Without anyone saying a word, people smiled as if guided by him. There was real sense of joy in the room. With smiles on their faces and Shirish's love in their hearts, they bid him a safe journey.
He loved his wife Jyotsana. Everyone agrees that he went above and beyond to make her life on earth as comfortable as possible in her time of need..
A Devoted Husband
Life & Anecdotes
A Disciple of Mother & Sri Aurobindo
He lived the truth in action of Mother & Sri Aurobindo's teaching to strive not to compete with others but but to better oneself.
A Raconteur
He was a man full of anecdotes. We remember his humorous storytelling which always lit up the room.
A Voracious Reader
He read a book a day. Books which that were literary sensations of their time. Works by Kazantzakis, Hesse and Nabokov when they were new.
A Music Enthusiast
Shirish loved music. In Mombasa, he amassed a huge vinyl collection from Jazz to Classical to Movie Soundtracks. Unusual for the time.
A Rally Car Driver
In East Africa, he participated in multi-country rallies as a co-driver. And through out his life, he took pride in cars and driving. He really enjoyed long distance driving.
A Vagabond
In his 90 years, Shirish lived in 9 cities on 4 continents, Click on the map or the link below. Then, click on the cities to see the years he spent there.
Share a Memory
We invite you to share your fondest memories and messages of condolence. Your words will help us honor his beautiful soul and the legacy he left behind.
If you have any photos of Shirish, we would love to post them.
(Submissions may take some time before they are published. Apologies for the delay.)
In Loving Remembrance
Chandra & Rajesh
I heard my dad speak many times about how fearless your dad was, and I'll always remember that about him. I know how much he meant to you and your family, and I hope you find strength in the love he gave you, the memories you shared, and the wonderful person he helped shape you to become. With love, Chandra & Rajesh Patel
Ishu
Dada, words cannot describe how much you really mean to me. You are my biggest support in anything that I do and why I became the person I am today. Thank you for giving me the guidance and support when I truly needed the most. He taught me so many valuable lessons that I hope I can pass down to Alia and Aarav. Without you, we wouldn’t love food as much as you did. Love you so much dada. I will forever cherish all the memories we created. With love, Ishu
Raji
Shirishkaka was almost a brother to my father and the relative I was closest to. He was present at many of the occasions in my life when I needed support. I will cherish memories of him filled with humor and the caring he showed me. With his passing, I have lost a loved and valued member of an extended family.
A.B. Patel’s Grandchildren
We will lose a rich trove of history of A.B. Patel’s family, of which he was a part, with his passing.
John & Shereen
He was such a kind man—who made a lovely and memorable toast at our wedding . John & Shereen
Dravish
My Kaka who was like a father to my father and not just a brother. He showed immense inner strength to uphold the Hamin/Amin name ever since a young day. Forever grateful to have known him and proud to call him my Kaka who I will remember forever
Shailja
Papa was so close to Shirishkaka that for always we have thought of Kaka , Kaki , Salil, Lina and Shimit as part of papa’s side of extended family. Have fond memories of fun, laughter and time spent together at our place at Sarabhai Sadan and in Punitnagar. Will miss him dearly! Shailja
Sohag
Blessed to know that Shirishbhai and Jyostanaben were blessed by The Divine Mother before their marriage. Showering The Divine Mother's Love and Sri Aurobindo's compassion to all
Kirti
My earliest memory of Shirishkaka was of seeing perform in Mombasa in the Gujarati comedy play Dhobi no Kutro, in which he played a young college student whose parents (played by my parents, Surendrabhai and Suvasben), disapproved of his shenanigans. That was in1957, and I was 5. When he visited Pondicherry with Jyotsnamasi, watching him take care of her with so much tenderness simply melted my heart. My most recent memory was meeting him again in Cary, NC, hanging out with him, listening to family stories which he told with great flair, and then all of us going out to eat with Lina’s family. He recommended tiramisu for dessert. Shirishkaka was a vibrant and larger than life character, who filled whatever room he found himself in. He was the life of any party. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Smita Kiran
I’m so sorry for your loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. Your dad will always be remembered through the love and memories he shared with all of you. I’m thinking of you during this difficult time. If there’s anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Yamini
I dont have enough words to describe the unique soul that uncle Shirish has been. As a friend , he was never a friend. He was a BROTHER. He was HOME. He became family. He became a ROCK. He never held back. He gave his all. Sincerely. He was my Father's true Brother. I lived across the seas secure in the knowledge that uncle Shirish was there for my Dad. Blessed be thy soul, uncle throughout eternity. With Love. From myself, mahen and Sabina.
Mehul
Kindness and love multiplied in this gentleman no matter who he met and a god given talent to make you laugh not shared by many. Also growing up I could never understand but he always called me with respect and I was mehul bhai to him . God is happy he has someone to make him smile .
Seema, Sanjiv, Ishaan, Aaron
Today, even in our sadness, we want to celebrate the incredible life Shirish Masa lived. He was the kind of person who didn’t just enter a room — he brightened it. His laughter had a way of pulling everyone in, his stories could turn an ordinary afternoon into something unforgettable, and his generosity made people feel valued and included. You will be truly missed but never forgotten. Seema, Sanjiv, Ishaan & Aaron
Gautam & Anju
You will be deeply missed, but the memories we shared will stay with us forever\. May you rest in peace, and may your soul be blessed with eternal peace.
Vipin Patel
We miss Shirishbhai please accept our Condolences We are praying for his Soul rest in peace.
Jay
I met Dada for the first time in 2010, the same year Ishwari and I started dating. He was the first person in the family I met, and from the very beginning, he made me feel welcome and accepted. Ishwari had told me, “If Dada accepts you as you are, my family will love you,” and thankfully, I must have passed the test.
My first impression of Dada was a lasting one. His wisdom and life experience immediately stood out, but even more memorable was the immense love and compassion he had for all of his grandchildren. I still remember what he told me the very first day we met: “Ishwari is mine. Ba and I helped raise her, and she’ll forever be a part of me.” Those are words I’ll never forget, because they captured just how deeply he loved his family.
Dada was a man of principle, but also of tremendous warmth and kindness. He believed strongly in the things that mattered to him, while always carrying himself with compassion for the people around him.
His love of sharing a good meal and a cold beer is something Ishwari and I have happily carried forward and try to enjoy regularly ourselves. It’s one of the many simple things that will always remind us of him.
Dada’s memory will live on through Ishwari and me, through our children, and through the stories, values, and traditions we continue to pass down. We will miss him dearly, but we will always be grateful for the time, wisdom, love, and memories he gave us.
Nirbhay
Rest in peace, Shirish Kaka. You did things your way, but always for others. You were a steady rock for our family, leading with dignity, kindness, and love. Your dedication to putting others before yourself was something we all saw and felt. I’ll miss your familiar opening to every conversation: “So, tell me…” Thank you for everything you gave to our family. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered
Paresh
Shirish uncle , a really amazing person, I met him two times only, one time at Salil’s house and one time he came to my business with Salil and spent about two hrs and he had shared great memories of his Uganda and Vadodara stays. My condolences with family, may God rest his soul in peace.
Ameeta
Many a delightful times have I spent with Shirishbhai enjoying his sense of humour, making light of life and listening to his life experiences which he narrated with a flare and very interestingly. If it was not for him I would never have gone to the US with a green card!!!! After my Master’s degree we were talking about my future plans!!! That’s when he suggested I apply for a green card on my profession. It was a chance worth taking he said. Not only did he suggest but walked me through the whole process not allowing me to give up under any circumstances!!! The other thing that was of mutual interest was our love for Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy.
Heartfelt gratitude to a dear brother in law and the precious memories🕉️🕉️🌺💝
Parag
Tribute to Shirishmasa. Masa was a very wise man. He carried knowledge the way some people carry light — generously, humbly, and always with the intention of guiding others. I want to share a few memories that show just how deeply he influenced me. When I was in elementary school, he visited our home in Brooklyn. He asked me if I had a library card. I told him no. I use the school library. He looked at me and said, “school library is a good start but after I leave, I highly recommend you go to your nearest public library and get a library card.” I asked him why, and he said something I will never forget: “To obtain knowledge, you have to discover and read. It doesn’t matter what subject — go to the library, walk around, see all the different subjects. That’s how you discover what interests you.” After he left, I had my Dad take me to the public library and I got a card. That moment changed how I viewed the library. The next time he visited us — this time in Staten Island — we went out to eat at an Indian restaurant. He asked me if I knew about the Hindu gods. I told him I knew about Krishna. He smiled and said, “That’s good, but do you know the history behind Krishna and all the other gods?” I said no, and right there at the table, he began explaining the stories, the powers, and the meaning behind each one. It was amazing how much knowledge he had and how naturally he shared it. Our next meeting was at a family wedding or event. He pulled me aside and said, “Whatever you do in life, make sure you don’t forget your parents and what they have done for and your sister.” That was who he was — always reminding you of what truly matters. Masa was fully engaged with everyone he met and every conversation he had. He made sure that when you walked away, you didn’t just feel heard — you learned something. His wisdom, his curiosity, and his love for teaching will stay with me forever. May his soul rest in peace, and may his legacy of knowledge and kindness continue to guide all of us.
Megha
Dada’s love for all the beings that surround him, be it Ba, Bubba or our dog Chinna, and his incredible sense of adventure and love for life will always inspire me. Many years ago, I was learning to play the guitar, and I played my first tune for Dada. He made sure I recorded it for him and later messaged me about how good it sounded on the speaker. (I know it was terrible. I had only been learning for two weeks!) I think that is the beauty of Dada. He invested his love and belief in people in a way that made them believe in themselves and always look forward to life. I feel so lucky to have known Dada in this lifetime, and I hope I get to know him in every lifetime. Most importantly, he is with the love of his life, Ba, now, and that thought makes me very happy. Ba always wanted him to live to a hundred years, and Dada would tell me this so endearingly. I love you, Dada be happy and shine your light on us with our lovely Ba.
Shiralee
A special Tribute to my favorite Shirshmasa
It is with great honor that I call you my favorite Masa. I will always remember how you were there for me when I was first born in the hospital. You gave me something so special when you named me after the beautiful blue bird of the rainforest. A name and memory I will carry with me forever. Its meaning, “spread your wings and fly,” will always remain close to my heart.
You led with good intentions and a generous heart. Your wisdom, kind words, and gentle soft tone of voice will always be an example of the wonderful person you were.
I am deeply grateful for all the beautiful memories we shared and for your presence in my life. You were not only my favorite Masa, you were someone who made a lasting difference in my life. I will miss you deeply, but I know that your spirit and the memories of you will always stay with me. Rest easy and peacefully. 🙏🏼🕉️🕊️
With love Shiralee 🙏🏼
Prernamami
Shirishbhai was of course, a very driven person. He loved to talk and he always made deep connections all throughout his life.
He was a genuine wit and a great storyteller. Whenever we met, he would reminisce about his life with Ramaben.
Chandanmama and I had a great privilege spending good time with him…
Prernamami & Chandanmama🙏
Pratima
Remembering a wonderful brother-in-law whose kindness, warmth, and gentle nature touched everyone around him. He was so much more than my sister’s husband—he was a truly special part of our family. His memory will live on in our hearts forever, and the happy moments we shared will never be forgotten. You took such great care of Alpesh and Seema which will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in peace. 🤍 Arun and Pratima.
Pratima
Remembering a wonderful brother-in-law whose kindness, warmth, and gentle nature touched everyone around him. He was so much more than my sister’s husband—he was a truly special part of our family. His memory will live on in our hearts forever, and the happy moments we shared will never be forgotten. You took such great care of Alpesh and Seema which will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in peace. 🤍 Arun and Pratima.
Atul
I got to know him during the time he was staying in Baroda - Punitnagar. we were neighbours. Families knew each other from Mombasa. He had a wonderful collection of music which I loved and listened to. Shirish uncle was a gentleman and loved life. RIP
Narharibhai and Umaben, Shveta and Sital
With heavy heart I feel great loss of our dear jijaji. I have no words to express your love kindness and support . You were rock who supported us kindly during our critical moments in Kampala. Our loving memories with my dear Ramaben and you will remain in our heart forever. Also we will always cherish the evergreen time we shared together. May your soul travel through liberated eternal path. And may Almighty give family members the strength to bear great loss.
Tej
My mother ‘Prafulben’ and Shirish (Mama) were first cousins. Their mothers were two head strong sisters from Baroda. Their dad was a high school headmaster and the girls had to attend school or, no marriage till after graduation. Both sisters married men who became private physicians in East Africa, pioneers in their time, one a Patel, in Kampala the other, a Hamin in Mombasa. Both 100 percent Gujarati. S. Mama was always reaching out to us, extended family, always friendly and optimistic, an attitude I learned to appreciate. A good listener, he smiled easily and always showed empathy. And he was blessed with social skills invaluable for a salesperson, a profession he excelled in, from what I gathered. The brothers Shirish and Raju and my mother were close. As diasporics, they kept in touch by phone across continents and met periodically enjoying each other’s company, families and stories—a genuine cultural affinity and family pride. And perhaps it was because of that closeness that more than a few times Mama drove 800 miles from Mombasa to Kampala just to pick me up and drive us back to the Mombasa. He exposed me to a fantastic old city with an exotic diversity of people, tongues, colors and endless black sandy beaches; with windswept coconut strands and mango groves to the north and south of Mombasa. And there were the dazzling colorful angel fish swimming in crystal clear rock pools around Fort Jesus.
Shirishmama cued me into many things about the past. Alas his vast repository of memory is no longer available to us. In 1952 when my dad was returning to India by ocean liner after his studies in New York, the Amin family received him and hosted him before putting him on the train ride to Kampala to visit his Father and Mother in Law, Mulji and Mani. I was already in Baroda with my mother, almost two, waiting for him to take us to Assam.
Several vacation periods in a row, when I was in primary school, Mama would drive to Kampala to bring me to Mombasa so I could enjoy my school break, with his family. Jyoshna Mami who made sure I drank my fresh creamy milk everyday and play with Lina and Salil who were my age. I had no siblings in Kampala till I was 12. I was also introduced to their chess, scrabble and monopoly enthusiasts from A.B. Patel’s clan. They had a curious but kind and friendly cross-generational inter-family vibe. Kids were respected not just tolerated. They made an impression on me.
Unlike any other Gujarati group I have encountered to this day, this one followed two daily recreational routines I will never forget. This first one, normal, but adhered to religiously, every sun-down, folks would pile into cars to go to the cliff with a lighthouse facing the ocean. There, cooled by the monsoon breeze, one could snack on fresh, hot, Cassava (MOGO) or Corn roasted on wood coal sigiris by local vendors. You may easily imagine the Indo-American 50’s style cruising scene, auto convertibles included, on the boulevard.
The other, unusual practice, one for the books, was that at the crack of dawn, everyone in the family, except the grand parents, would join a caravan of other cars with other families drive to Mombasa’s harbor. There, everyone would pile into rowboats which were rowed out to the middle of the deep water channel surrounded by anchored wooden Arab Dhows. There, to my great surprise, the ladies in saris, and the men in swimming trunks, plunged into the deep green water. Luckily I knew how to dog paddle! Then after a brisk swim everybody climbed back into the boats, back to shore and into the waiting cars, wet, to drive home to breakfast. I am still curious about who might have introduced this brave outdoorsy practice.
All credit goes to ShirishMama for reaching out to us in New York, introducing us to Shimit and ultimately bringing the two Baroda Sisters’ families closer. There are beautiful, moving tributes here to Shirishmama and the sentiments are illuminated with a wonderful photo gallery. Our thanks go to the everyone who made this precious cremation and repast possible. ShirishMama will be missed greatly.
Pruthvish
He was anything but sad-and it therefore places on us the responsibility of celebrating a life well lived.
My earliest memories of your late grandmother was during her visit in 1957. She carried with her the gentleness and humour inherited by Shirishkaka.
All along I have always been a welcome guest at your parents' place. When you were a tot crawling on all fours, we (Siddharth, Kirti, I think Apurva) had come to stay at the family residence in Mnazi Moja.
Then there was at the end of 1964 a trip to Murchison falls from Kampala organised by Shirishkaka. I am not sure how we fitted in the Saab car with a drive when aside from your Mum, mine was there also, On board were yourself (Lina), myself, sister Kirti, Siddharth and Apurva.-as far as my recollection goes. We had a grand time saying hello to the crocodiles, hippos and elephants.
Mum was kind enough to chauffeur us to the Bahai temple and also Port Bell.
Further down the line, we also visited Mum and Dad in Punitnagar, where my masa and masi had taken up residence.
Dad-Shirishkaka to me had also made some trips to Pondicherry-once with Mum and another time before he emigrated to the US (which was before the later trip with Mum)
Shirish kaka always brought any home to life with his humour and recollections of old times.
All I now wish the departed soul is as Shakepeare said in the play when Hamlet passed away:
'Good night sweet prince and may flights of angels sing thee to they rest"
Let joy prevail although grief is not far behind.
Bharat
Shirishkaka was so close to papa that we have always thought of kaka , kaki , Salil, Lina and Shimit as part of papa’s side of extended family! Which meant that Shirishkaka was the closest of the kakas we had. Have fond memories of fun , laughter and time spent together at our place at Sarabhai Sadan and in Punitnagar. Will miss him. Shailja
First time I saw him was when he came to India for marriage. I was young so I didn’t get a chance to meet him. But when he moved with his family I got a chance to meet him. He was very sweet & accepted me as a friend. He helped me a lot when I need him without any hesitation. I will always remember him as a friend.
Gautam & Anju
He will be remembered in our memories. May soul attain ultimate salvation (moksha)
Parimal
Apart from my memories from childhood whenthe entire family including Shirishkaka would get together for dinners , picnics and family nataks, my best memory is in Vadodara in 1971 when I had come relunctantly with my dad to find a bride. Shirishkaka had taken charge and we had a lot of laughs together with him, Ranjitkaka, Shakuntalakaki my dad and others. I was called "the one who got away" after that.
Suveer
Although I've known Shimit as a dear friend for over two decades, uncle Shirish and I were never close. I met him over the years a few times in North Carolina when I visited Shimmy and then on a few visits to New Jersey, where Shirish uncle spent his final years. And even though I didn't know uncle, there's one thing I can say for certain: he was a good father. He was a good father because in my friend Shimmy, his son, he raised a trusted friend and a kind human. A son who didn't think twice to make frequent trips across the world to spend, at times, only a few days at a time with his father. I hope that wherever Shirish uncle is now, he's looking at this post (because the internet is everywhere!) and smiling. Rest in peace, uncle Shirish. You are dearly missed.
Avantika and Priya
We know Shirish Uncle as Shimmy’s papa. Through that lens, we can imagine the kind, loving, gentle, strong and steadfast person that he was because we see all that and more in Shimmy. Seeing this page full of memories, stories and anecdotes of his adventures, his family and friends and the generosity of his spirit leave us with a profound sense of gratitude for him being the man he was for himself and everyone around him. At the end of the day we see his legacy live on in Shimmy and all those whose lives we touched. His is a story of a life well lived and loved. Sending Shimmy, Megu and everyone our regards and love. Avantika and Priya.
Sandy
Hey Shims… I remember meeting your Dad and having a lovely conversation with him here in Mumbai. Though it was brief and it was a long time back but it’s a distinct memory. One that I will always cherish. Sending my deepest respects!!! 🙏💐
Radhika
It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to have been raised by dada and ba. For 34 years of my life, he has always been there. Dada’s love for me and my sister sarangi was the most unconditional and unwavering. He taught me to be kind and compassionate to everyone, patience and understanding with conflict, tenacious with my ambitions, and above all else, love and respect for myself. I like to believe all of my best characteristics come from him and ba. There has not been a single moment in my life where I have not thought about what dada (and ba) would do in every choice that I’ve made thus far. Every path in my life I’ve always had both of them in my mind guiding me. I am not sure what life will be like moving forward but I have to believe that dada will never truly be gone, that he will always be with me and continue to guide me through life. Dada, you are my greatest gift and it brings me peace to know that you are finally reunited with ba. Rest easy. I will carry your light with me always.
Bharat and Minu
We are from the same village in India. We lived in Mombasa and he used to call my late dad Motabhai. When we were in Kampala Uganda he was there and your late mum Jyotsnakaki used to come regularly. We were like one family including your late Rajukaka. I had talked to Shimit many years back in India and than lost contact. I remember having seen you at a young age. Shirishkaka was ever so joyful and funny and full of energy. I suppose time had come for him to rest and move on . Our sincere condolences to you all as the family. Bharat & Minu Patel Nairobi Kenya
“He leaves behind a legacy of resilience and compassion. profound wisdom, gentle grace and endless positive energy.”
