Obituary of Arvind S Shah

LINK to livestream of funeral service

Click on the link (above) to connect to the funeral home's facebook page (sign-in is NOT required).  A live-stream of the service will begin at approximately 10am EST on Thursday, August 22nd. 

Our beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, mentor, and dedicated healthcare professional left us on August 19, 2024. He left an incredible mark on everyone he met.

In 1970, he moved from India to Boston with minimal resources and built a home and life with his late wife, Sushila, and two children, Smriti and Pathik.

He and Sushila were both founding members of the Jain Center of Greater Boston, a religious organization dedicated to promoting the Jain faith. They were past committee members helping the Center grow in its early years into a major source of culture, religion, and community for hundreds of people in the Boston area.  They were active in the Center’s life for many decades, and also participated in religious activities at Jain Sangh of New England. 

His family was the center of his world, especially his four grandchildren. In his younger years, you could see him running around with the grandkids playing basketball or teaching them how to cultivate tomatoes and peas from his backyard garden.  And away from the driveway basketball hoop, he was always ready to play cribbage, carrom, or Uno with the kids, grandkids, and friends. 

At 87, he lived a life of unconditional love, compassion, generosity, and dedication. He contributed to many causes helping children, families, and animal shelters throughout his life. He had a passion for charity and loved to give back to his community and supported many causes. In one act of kindness, he helped install a water station in the town he grew up in so passengers waiting at the bus depot would have safe drinking water every day.

Professionally, his legendary work left a positive impact for future generations of pharmacists on peri-operative pharmacy practice by founding and running the Operating Room Pharmacy at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1973. He loved serving his colleagues, patients, supporting patients’ journeys to recovery, and mentoring younger pharmacists. He was an important part of the Mass General family for well over 40 years.  

We will all miss his easy laugh and gentle smile, his comforting presence, and the warmth of his embrace.

Arvind is the father of Smriti Shah who is married to Viren Shah of Mission Viejo, CA, and Pathik Shah who is married to Lori Shah of Burlington, MA.  He is the grandfather of Paras Shah of New York, NY, Pooja Shah of Mission Viejo, CA, Milan Shah of Cambridge, MA and Sonia Shah of North Grafton, MA.

We will celebrate his life on Thursday, August 22, at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington. Eulogies will begin at 10 a.m. followed by short prayers, and family receiving guests that will end at 11:30 a.m. A private cremation will follow.  

Please feel free to wear a color of your choice. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of these charities, which Arvind loved.

Indian Circle of Caring  or  MSPCA  (Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)