Salma Sita Zahiruddin, M.D.

Dr. Salma Sita Zahiruddin, a resident of Kingston since 1980 died on December 30, 2003 at Kingston Hospital following a brief illness. Dr. Zahiruddin whose specialization was in Obstetrics and Gynecology graduated from the Lady Harding Medical College for Women in New Delhi in 1939 and practiced medicine in India, Pakistan and England until1961 when she migrated to the United States. In New York City, she worked at the French Hospital, the New York Infirmary and the Gouverneur Hospital in lower Manhattan. She was also on the faculty of the New York University Medical Center. Dr. Zahiruddin was born in Calcutta on August 30, 1914 to Narendra Kumar and Rajkumari Roy. She married Colonel Muhammed Zahiruddin in 1942 and moved to Pakistan in 1947 amidst the tumultuous partition of India and Pakistan and the tragedy suffered by all sides during that historic event. She worked in Karachi, Quetta and Lahore in Pakistan until 1960 for government hospitals administering to railway workers and their families. Her dedication to the health needs of the poor, in particular, women and children, was acknowledged widely. In later years, she recalled with great nostalgia, her work among the Pathan and Afghan people during her stay in Quetta and admired the people for their sense of honor, honesty and hospitality. The upheaval and violence that has descended on the people of those regions in recent times were a source of great pain to her. Subsequent to her retirement at the age of 74 in 1988, she enjoyed her years of leisure by getting to know the City of Kingston and her neighbors, maintaining close contact with family members, traveling far and wide, her avid interest in world affairs and most of all, by tending her garden at 2 President’s Place. She belonged to several local organizations, including, the YWCA of Ulster County, the Medical Society of Ulster County and the American Association of University Women. She was dedicated in philanthropy to causes, local, national and international and supported organizations that work to avert hunger and suffering and that promote peace. She will be missed by: her two daughters, Azra Farrell (Nyack, N.Y.) and Rehana Ahmad-Haque (Manhattan); three grandchildren, Rehana Farrell and her husband Damon Grandbouche (Hoboken, N.J.), Ravi Ahmad-Haque (Oxford, U.K.) and Adil Ahmad-Haque (New Haven, CT); a sister, Dr. Dipti Sisodia (Kingston); and two brothers, Professor Rustum Roy (State College, PA) and Dr. Prodipto Roy (New Delhi, India). Her family, neighbors, friends and patients worldwide will always remember her dedication, compassion, elegance and dignity. Memorial contributions may be made to Family of Woodstock, PO Box 3516, Kingston, NY 12401; the YWCA, 209 Clinton Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401; Bread for the World, UNICEF or the D.A.V., 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076, Doctors without Borders, CARE, and the Carter Center.