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BORN
1925
DIED
2022
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Gurcharan Lal CHOPRA Obituary
Gurcharan Lal Chopra, known to friends and family as G.L. or Gurchie, passed away on Sunday, February 20, 2022, in Burlington, Ontario, just three weeks short of his 97th birthday.
Well-travelled and a genial host, G.L. was perhaps best known in Burlington for his activities supporting seniors, as the founding organizer of the Annual Seniors Day at Vaishnu Devi Temple, as well as a founding member of the Burlington Arya Samaj. But G.L. led a life full of achievement, particularly in international sport.
Born March 9, 1925, in Sheikhupura, Punjab, British India, he was the second child of Bihari Lal, a barrister, and Pritam Devi Chopra. He received his BA from Government College, Ludhiana, where he also captained the field hockey team. The sport was his first love, and he made his mark early on as a player and later as an Olympic coach, umpire, and judge.
In late 1950, he escorted his sister Swaran Maini and her infant son, Vipan, to her home in Nairobi, Kenya. Unexpectedly, a new life and career beckoned in East Africa. With Kenya's Education Department, G.L. became a teacher of mathematics, and later vice principal and principal.
In 1952 came the most profound stroke of good fortune in a fortunate life: he married Nirmala (Nimmi) Kumari Ghai, his wife for 70 years. He gave up playing field hockey for his second career: field hockey umpiring and international leadership. The births of the Chopra children, Rajeev and Renu followed in 1953 and 1956.
G.L.'s hockey career prospered with leading roles in international field hockey organizations and events. Life revolved around the Olympics: as umpire, judge, and technical delegate, he attended seven Olympic Games as well as five Pan-Am Games and innumerable national and international tournaments.
In 1965, the Chopra family moved to Mexico City, where G.L. was director and coach of field hockey for the 1968 games. The decision to stop for a visit in Burlington en route to another position for the Munich Games, brought another stroke of luck, when friends here urged the Chopras to stay. G.L. quickly found a job as international claims officer at Manulife in Toronto, and the family put down roots.
For 70 years, Nimmi tirelessly supported G.L. in all his endeavours. Always ready to welcome newcomers and visitors, together they made their homes in Nairobi, Mexico City and Burlington welcoming to family and friends from around the world. Never happier than as a host, G.L. often said there would always be a grain of rice for the unexpected guest.
G.L. Chopra is survived by his beloved Nimmi, his son Rajeev and wife Judith of Burlington, daughter Renu and husband Shalin Khosla of Windsor, Ontario; the grandchildren he so much delighted in-Roshan Chopra and Radha Khosla of Toronto and Dr. Akhil Khosla and wife Christine of Connecticut- and his brother Basant and wife Bala Chopra, of Sarnia, Ontario. G.L. was predeceased by his sisters, Swaran Maini and Phul Jolly.
Visitation: Thursday, February 24, 2022 at Smith's Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line, from seven to nine p.m. Please note: proof of vaccination will be required.
Funeral: Friday, February 25, 10 a.m. at Smith's Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line, Burlington, ON L7P 2S7; 905-632-3333. Proof of vaccination will be required.
The family thanks Billings Court Manor for the care provided to G.L. during the last two months. In lieu of flowers, donations to research with the Alzheimers Society of Canada at [email protected] sincerely appreciated.
www.smithsfh.com
Well-travelled and a genial host, G.L. was perhaps best known in Burlington for his activities supporting seniors, as the founding organizer of the Annual Seniors Day at Vaishnu Devi Temple, as well as a founding member of the Burlington Arya Samaj. But G.L. led a life full of achievement, particularly in international sport.
Born March 9, 1925, in Sheikhupura, Punjab, British India, he was the second child of Bihari Lal, a barrister, and Pritam Devi Chopra. He received his BA from Government College, Ludhiana, where he also captained the field hockey team. The sport was his first love, and he made his mark early on as a player and later as an Olympic coach, umpire, and judge.
In late 1950, he escorted his sister Swaran Maini and her infant son, Vipan, to her home in Nairobi, Kenya. Unexpectedly, a new life and career beckoned in East Africa. With Kenya's Education Department, G.L. became a teacher of mathematics, and later vice principal and principal.
In 1952 came the most profound stroke of good fortune in a fortunate life: he married Nirmala (Nimmi) Kumari Ghai, his wife for 70 years. He gave up playing field hockey for his second career: field hockey umpiring and international leadership. The births of the Chopra children, Rajeev and Renu followed in 1953 and 1956.
G.L.'s hockey career prospered with leading roles in international field hockey organizations and events. Life revolved around the Olympics: as umpire, judge, and technical delegate, he attended seven Olympic Games as well as five Pan-Am Games and innumerable national and international tournaments.
In 1965, the Chopra family moved to Mexico City, where G.L. was director and coach of field hockey for the 1968 games. The decision to stop for a visit in Burlington en route to another position for the Munich Games, brought another stroke of luck, when friends here urged the Chopras to stay. G.L. quickly found a job as international claims officer at Manulife in Toronto, and the family put down roots.
For 70 years, Nimmi tirelessly supported G.L. in all his endeavours. Always ready to welcome newcomers and visitors, together they made their homes in Nairobi, Mexico City and Burlington welcoming to family and friends from around the world. Never happier than as a host, G.L. often said there would always be a grain of rice for the unexpected guest.
G.L. Chopra is survived by his beloved Nimmi, his son Rajeev and wife Judith of Burlington, daughter Renu and husband Shalin Khosla of Windsor, Ontario; the grandchildren he so much delighted in-Roshan Chopra and Radha Khosla of Toronto and Dr. Akhil Khosla and wife Christine of Connecticut- and his brother Basant and wife Bala Chopra, of Sarnia, Ontario. G.L. was predeceased by his sisters, Swaran Maini and Phul Jolly.
Visitation: Thursday, February 24, 2022 at Smith's Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line, from seven to nine p.m. Please note: proof of vaccination will be required.
Funeral: Friday, February 25, 10 a.m. at Smith's Funeral Home, 1167 Guelph Line, Burlington, ON L7P 2S7; 905-632-3333. Proof of vaccination will be required.
The family thanks Billings Court Manor for the care provided to G.L. during the last two months. In lieu of flowers, donations to research with the Alzheimers Society of Canada at [email protected] sincerely appreciated.
www.smithsfh.com
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Published by Halton News on Feb. 23, 2022.
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