Dr. Tapas K. Das Gupta, 92, died peacefully on the morning of Dec. 17, 2024. He was one of the world’s leading authorities on treatment of melanomas and sarcomas and remained active in the scientific community until the very end of his life.
Born on Feb. 22, 1932 in New Delhi, India to Nilalohit and Labanya Das Gupta, he was far ahead of his age-related peers from the beginning and went off to college at the age of 14 in 1946. This was a turbulent time in India, as the burgeoning Quit India movement was trying to end British occupation. He became interested in politics and was elected student body president. At the age of 16, he organized a jute mill worker’s strike which grew to become a large protest movement. This attracted the attention of the British authorities and at one of the rallies, they opened fire. He was shot in the leg, captured, and jailed for 72 hours in solitary confinement before being released. But the strike was a success.
He returned to his studies, finished college in only two years, and was admitted to medical school at 16. He had to lie about his age, as the minimum for admission was 18. Two years later, his actual age was uncovered, but he had the highest grades in the class, so rather than expel him, the administration delayed his progression for a number of months. During this hiatus, he found work in Darjeeling on a tea plantation, caring for the numerous cuts that afflicted workers on the job. In turn, these workers taught him how to identify the highest quality leaves, which started his lifelong love affair with tea. Tapas was never picky about food, but he was a tea snob of the highest order.
He completed his medical training in 1953 and passed all exams with highest distinction, but frustrated by the colonial narrow-mindedness of the medical establishment in India, he decided to go to the U.S. to further his medical career in 1956. Starting at Mt Sinai hospital in Chicago. His hard work, dedication, and intelligence propelled him to a faculty appointment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
There he met the love of his life, Judy Murphy. They reveled in the cultural opportunities of the city, including museums, galleries, exhibitions, and theaters. He attended the University of London for a PhD and Judy followed him there. They married in March of 1967. Shortly after, he was named head of surgical oncology at the University of Illinois Chicago and became renowned as a physician, authoring hundreds of papers, mentoring dozens of fellows, and saving many lives.
His career highlights include: publishing papers in prestigious journals (Nature, Science, Cell), chairing multiple FDA committees, becoming the first non-white person inducted into the prestigious American Surgical Association, and having the longest continuously funded NIH P-01 grant in US history. He was always a champion of women’s rights and helped many female surgeons advance their careers despite the “old boy” network of surgery.
Tapas and his wife were married for 57 happy years. They had two children, Joy (Rob Neely) and Neil (Carrie), along with five grandchildren, Asha, Drew, Olivia, Katie, and Molly. Nothing made him happier than spending Thanksgiving dinner with everyone around him. He told innumerable stories from his amazing life that could keep the entire table enchanted. His entire family is eternally grateful that he was able to enjoy one last wonderful Thanksgiving in 2024.
According to his wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes eventually returned to his native India to be scattered in the Ganges River. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be planned for the spring/summer of 2025.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please send donations to the American Cancer Society or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Arrangements were handled by Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home.