Sumeeta Chandavarkar
Diplomat, daughter, wife. Born on March 4, 1971, in Mumbai, India; died on Nov. 16, 2014, in Ottawa, of unknown causes, peacefully in her sleep, aged 43.
Sumeeta's life was a profile in courage. Her challenges began when she was less than three months old, and was struck by acute poliomyelitis just a few weeks before she was to have received immunization shots.
Yet throughout her life, particularly in recent years with effects of post-polio syndrome setting in, her physical challenges never deterred her from pursuing her academic, professional and social interests.
We first got a glimpse of her valour when she was three years old, swimming in the South China Sea on the east coast of Malaysia despite the affliction in her right leg. As a child at school in Mumbai, she insisted on playing and competing in sports just as the other girls did, although she had to do an hour of water exercises before school and another hour of physiotherapy after classes ended.
In 1987, our family moved to Canada. Sumeeta attended Havergal College in Toronto, the University of Toronto and Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, where she earned her master's degree in political science. She learned Mandarin in university and later, under the Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program, pursued higher studies in Mandarin at the Beijing Language and Culture University.
Sumeeta's single-minded interest in foreign affairs culminated in joining Canada's Foreign Service in 2002. She had a remarkably successful career with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, where she was described as "one of the department's most seasoned China hands." She touched many hearts among her colleagues and was fortunate to receive unremitting love and adoration.
Fluent in Mandarin and French, she was highly respected and popular in the diplomatic and social circles in Taipei, Shanghai and Guangzhou, China, and served as consul for political and public affairs in the latter two postings. In 2013, she returned to Canada to become deputy director of the department's human rights division in Ottawa.
Although physically challenged, she always wanted – and enjoyed – a vibrant, eventful life. She made the most of every experience. She was a voracious reader of English literature, loved classical music, and was a wonderful host, entertaining friends and colleagues with her fusion cooking of Indian and Western cuisine. In 2001, she met David Moodie, a London-based cameraman for NBC News. After a long courtship, they were happily married in 2011.
Sumeeta exuded love, charm, generosity and compassion. She delighted in many lasting friendships and was a loving family person; she was particularly close to her niece and nephew. She left us without bidding goodbye. But we won't let her go. She has an unimpeachable place in our hearts.
Sujata and Shyamsunder Chandavarkar are Sumeeta's parents.