Priyakant Desai

XENIA — Priyakant Kantilal (P.K.) Desai, age 71, of Dayton, passed away on February 23, 2015 after a long battle with Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). P.K. was born in Jhalod, India, son of the late Kantilal and Jamuben (Mehta) Desai. P.K. was a physician and surgeon specializing in Urology in Dayton, OH and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. He graduated with top honors from M.S. University Baroda. P.K. moved to the United States in 1968. Throughout his medical training, P.K. lived in Cook County, IL, Coney Island, NY, and Erie, PA, before settling in Xenia, OH in 1973. He married Dr. Usha Desai in 1971 and they had two children, Neil (b. 1975) and Nisha (b. 1980). Professionally, P.K. was renowned in his field serving as President of the Greene County Medical Society (1978) and Chief of Medical Staff, Greene Memorial Hospital (1981). He was a Board Member of the Golden Age Senior Citizens Center, Founding Member of the American Kidney Stone Management Company, and Founding Member of Western Ohio Insurance Company. P.K. was very actively involved in the Indian community in Dayton and in his hometown of Jhalod, India. He served as Trustee of The Hindu Community Organization, and he received the Special Community Service Award from the India Club of Greater Dayton. His donation founded the Jamuben Kantilal Desai Bachelor of Education College and the Kantilal Ratanlal Desai Arts & Commerce College in Jhalod in 2000. P.K. was also an active member of the Xenia Rotary Club for over 20 years. Priyakant is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Usha Desai; son, Neil (Priya) Desai; daughter, Nisha (Graham) Marwick; sisters, Priya Desai (Manoj), Kalpana Shah (Bharat), and Bella Shah (Samir); grandchildren, Ila, Uma, and Arran. He also leaves behind many other loving friends and relatives. Services will be held on Friday, February 27th from 2pm, at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd, Kettering, OH 45429. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the P.K. and Usha Desai Foundation c/o Wright-Patt Credit Union, Centerville, OH. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.routsong.com.