Virendra Kumar Gupta, 85
Virendra K. Gupta was born on March 14, 1932 in Delhi, India and passed peacefully on December 24, 2017 in Gainesville at age 85. He lived a full, loving life surrounded by friends and family. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Santosh, his two sons, Mayank and Varun, and his four devoted grandchildren.
He pursued his Ph.D. / Sc. D. in Entomology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He then became a professor of Entomology for 20 years at the University of Delhi, India and 20 more years of service at the University of Florida, Gainesville. During his research and tenure, he amassed the second largest collection of Ichneumonidae in the world. He gifted the collection to DPI for generations of scientists to study. He also spent 46 years publishing a specialized journal called Oriental Insects. This research led to the biological control of parasitic insects including those in orange groves in Florida.
Virendra led a satisfied life, full of love and adventure. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow, as they tried to mimic his diligence and strong character. He also visited many countries around the world. He was an avid photographer since his teenage years, chronicling all the beauty he saw in his travels. While at home, he enjoyed playing cards in addition to growing various fruits and vegetables.
Virendra lived a healthy, fulfilled life. He was selfless and took care of the people around him to no limit. He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation towards the charity of your choice.
