JAYANTI OZA
CHICAGO: A Chicago-based senior citizens’ organization, United Senior Pariwar (USP) held a meeting April 14 to pay tributes to prominent newspaper correspondent and its founding member, Sureshbhai Shah, who passed away April 6.
Over 200 members and family friends of Shah gathered at SwaminarayanTemple, Wheeling, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Ilaben Parikh, Smitaben Sutariya, Meenaben Patel, Suresh Rami, Hemaben Rana, and Nalinkant Parikh sang bhajans in memory of Shah, who was a journalist working for Gujarat Samachar.
Rameshbhai Chowksi said Shah was among the first founders of United Senior Pariwar and was instrumental in enlightening on subjects like immigration, social security, medicare, medicaid, and Obamacare. In this context, he observed ,”We lost a great person and guru.”
Ramanbhai Patel, President of USP, said that Shah worked hard to lift the organization and was its solid foundation. Ushaben Kamariya, Rohit Joshi, Hashmukhbhai Soni (ex-Treasurer of USP), and Kanubhai Patel (Joint Secretary of USP) and Dhiren Mistry too paid tributes to Shah.
From Shah’s family, his wife Kapilaben Shah, sons, daughter, son-in-law, daughters-in-law and grandchildren was present.
USP members made a book of memories containing pictures and articles Sureshbhai wrote about USP in Gujarat Samachar’s US edition.