Ira Das Gupta

SCOTTSDALE – Ira Das Gupta, much loved mother and grandmother, passed away on July 30, 2018 at home in Scottsdale, Arizona, surrounded by her family. Born in Mandalay, Burma on December 3, 1927 to Urmila and Nripesh Das, Ira was raised to value both education and music. Ira earned a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Mathematics from the University of Calcutta where she then taught math. After marrying Asru K. Das Gupta, to whom she was happily married for nearly 50 years until his passing, they moved to the United States and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they started a family. Ira earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1971 and worked as a counselor at Goodwill Industries for many years. Ira and Asru relocated to Shawnee, Oklahoma after their children were grown, where Ira worked as a professor of math and psychology and as a guidance counselor at St. Gregory’s College. Throughout her life, Ira was a gifted and nationally renowned sitar player. She taught sitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music as well as performing concerts across the country. First and foremost, however, Ira was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, as her family was always her greatest priority. She is survived by her daughters, Krishna Smith (Frank), of Nashotah, Wisconsin, and Mala Clancey (Sean), of Scottsdale, Arizona; her grandchildren, Danny Smith (fiancée Colleen Gleason), Conor Clancey, Christine Smith and Kevin Clancey; and her brother, Vaskar Das (Aloka) of New Delhi, India, as well as many nieces, nephews (including Rathindra Das Gupta (Jean) and other extended family. Her kind and generous spirit touched many lives and she will be dearly missed. Contributions in memory of Ira may be given to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Arrangements entrusted to Messinger Indian School Mortuary.