Remembering Saroj Kapadia

07 Aug Remembering Saroj Kapadia

With heavy hearts we wish to inform the Woodstock community that we have lost Saroj Kapadia, a much-loved member of the faculty and the wider community since 1954.

Saroj Kapadia

March 14, 1933 – August 6, 2024

Please click here to read the official obituary shared by Mrs. Kapadia’s family.

Mrs. Saroj Kapadia joined Woodstock in 1954 and after spending nearly 40 years at the school retired in 1991. During her tenure she took on many roles at Woodstock, though she is most remembered for her role as the Hindi teacher for many Woodstockers. Mrs. Kapadia also served as the Alumni Secretary and Alumni Coordinator during her time at Woodstock.

In the words of Principal Hugh Bradby who was serving during her retirement, “With the retirement of Mrs. Saroj Kapadia in the summer of 1991, a long chapter in Woodstock’s recent history will be concluded.”

He also wrote in her retirement letter, “Saroj’s third and final career of service at Woodstock is tied up with the work of the Alumni office. As one who had been a close colleague of Miss Marley for so many years, Saroj well understood the vital importance of keeping in touch with alumni from the time of their graduation onwards. On her appointment as Alumni Coordinator, she formed a strong partnership with Lillian Skinner Singh ’39. Together, they made sure that the Alumni office ran efficiently, with records properly maintained and correspondence kept up to date. But even more important than efficient administration was Saroj’s desire that the Alumni office should be a place where all alumni returning to the school felt truly welcome. She spared no effort to make alumni (and other visitors to the school) feel at home. I know that many readers of the ‘Quad’ will testify to the warmth of the hospitality they received from Saroj.”

Darab Nagarwalla ’80, remembering Mrs Kapadia

Mrs. Kapadia played many influential roles during her Woodstock life. She joined as a Hindi teacher and later became class mother and graduation organiser to senior classes during the 70s and 80s. She was an active member of the very first alumni office team. After her retirement she continued to be actively involved with rural education and women’s empowerment through Mussoorie Gram Vikas Samiti (MGVS), a Landour-based NGO established by ex-Principal Bob Alter after his retirement.

Mrs. Kapadia embodied many elements of Woodstock culture, including a strong sense of justice and fairness, an active social life with the wider Mussoorie community, and a deep concern for the wellbeing of local village communities who serve the school in various ways. Hers was a life to be celebrated. We wish to offer our heartfelt condolences to her son Fali, Class of 1975, and the extended family.

Sharon Seto ’79, remembering Mrs Kapadia

Mrs. Kapadia was mother to many in the class of 1979, and we are deeply touched and saddened by her passing. In addition to being our class mother and teacher, she took many of us under her wing because her daughter Shahnaz was our classmate and friend. Her house was always open, and her warm laughter, crazy sense of humor, and amazing love were true gifts. In later years she was the glue that held alumni together across the globe, an advocate for the education of girls and the founding of Kaplani School, and a part of the foundation of the Landour hillside community. Her life was not easy, but it was rich with the love of Woodstockers spanning over 70 years, and she will live on in our hearts.

Memories shared by a few members of the Class of 1973

Ashoke Chatterjee ’51, remembering Mrs Kapadia

Saroj was an institution, the embodiment of what it meant to be part of Woodstock and committed to Woodstock. She was in and part of that great ‘Miss Marley’ tradition. Her contribution with Bob Alter to Kaplani School’s growth and nourishment was second to none. There will be many on the hillside for whom Saroj’s absence will be a profound loss.