Banarsi Lal

Banarsi Lal, 86, and longtime resident of Fairbanks, passed away on the morning of Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.
Banarsi was born in Varanasi, India, the second eldest in a family of nine children. As the son of a physician, who served as a medical officer for the government of India, Banarsi moved around with his family throughout India. The family made their home in Lucknow, India, which is primarily where Banarsi was raised.
By age 24, Banarsi had completed degrees in law and social work at Lucknow University and a Master of Psychology at Agra University. Banarsi married Asha on Feb. 25, 1956, in Lucknow. His work with the Uttar Pradesh State government's Department of Social Welfare required him to be placed in assignments throughout India. Oftentimes he was sent alone, and at other times, the entire family relocated. In April 1964, Banarsi was a recipient of a grant jointly funded by the Fulbright Commission and the U.S. Education Foundation, whereby he spent six months in the United States for an educational opportunity specifically for social workers.
Banarsi's experience in the United States was life changing. Upon his return to India, he relayed to Asha that he wanted nothing more than to raise his own family in the U.S. As such, in the early 1970s, Banarsi immigrated to the United States alone, initially to Boston. He was invited to interview for a position in Fairbanks in 1972. The employer worried that Banarsi would be deterred by the cold, harsh climate of Fairbanks. However, it was the warmth of the community that drew Banarsi in and kept him in Fairbanks for the rest of his life. Needless to say, he accepted the position with what is known today as the Fairbanks Resource Agency.
After nearly a five-year separation, Banarsi was reunited with his family when they joined him here in Fairbanks in July 1975. Soon thereafter, Banarsi accepted a position with Fairbanks Native Association. During his tenure with FNA, he was responsible for creating and launching several innovative programs that aimed to address addiction issues for different population segments, using a variety of approaches geared to the prevention of substance abuse and sustained recovery. His pioneering work with such programs was recognized at state and national levels. In 2000, Banarsi retired from his position as director of Behavioral Health Services at FNA after 24 years of service.
Post-retirement, Banarsi continued to stay active and remain involved in volunteer roles with the Alaska Commission on Aging; the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education; the Fairbanks North Star Borough Senior Advisory Commission and Health and Social Services Commission; the Pioneers' Home Advisory Council; the board of directors for the Fairbanks Community Mental Health Center; and the board of directors for the North Star Council on Aging/Senior Center. In 2011, Banarsi was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from UAF for his vigilant dedication to the underserved needs of vulnerable populations of Alaska and for improving the overall quality of Alaska social service programs.
Banarsi will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 62 years, Asha; children, Jyotsna (Steve), Sanjiv (Denise) and Nandita (Dan); and grandchildren, Daniel, Andrew, Chloe, Maya, Kavya and Kaushal. He will also be fondly remembered by his sisters, Tara, Sheela and Padma; and brothers, Kamal and Ravi.
A celebration of life honoring Banarsi Lal will be held from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Pike's Waterfront Lodge in the Binkley Room. 
Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made in remembrance of Banarsi to the Banarsi Lal Social Work Scholarship at UAF, or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made to the family at blanchardfamilyfuneralhome.com.