Surjit Singh Guraya's Obituary
Surjit Singh Gurarya, 85, died peacefully on May 25, 2017 in Dublin, CA. He was born in Haripur, Punjab (India) on November 24, 1931. Surjit was a loving son, brother, uncle, and friend. He is survived by his two sisters, four nephews, four grand-nephews, and six grand-nieces all of whom resided in the San Francisco Bay Area with him. He left India 60 years ago in 1957, after having completed his M.A. in English. He eventually settled in Berkeley, California before sponsoring his sisters’ families’ emigration to the United States. Surjit taught English in high schools and colleges throughout the SF Bay Area and especially loved to recite the verses of William Shakespeare. Surjit had a passion for reading the classics of Western and Eastern literature and was a very skilled writer who published articles and editorials in newspapers and magazines. Surjit spent hours practicing yoga and playing the Bansuri, or bamboo flute, and taught Yoga and Classical East Indian Music professionally for several decades. Surjit also enjoyed jogging and learning about nutrition long before such lifestyle choices were fashionable. Other passions of his were philosophy, performing stand-up comedy, and supporting the pursuit of higher education for many children. He was a creative, unique, and generous soul who will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
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