Ghana Shyam Tripathy

****************************************************PUBLIC VISITATION FOR DR. TRIPATHY HAS BEEN SET FOR 1:30 – 3:00 PM, SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2008, IN THE GEIB FUNERAL CENTER AT DOVER WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BEGIN AT 3:00 PM.****************************************************Dr. Ghana Shyam Tripathy, age 88, of Dover, a devoted husband, loving father, respected health care provider, and author died Thursday, July 31, 2008, in Union Hospital at Dover following a period of declining health.Ghana was born June 12, 1920, in Mahu, Orissa, India; one of ten children born to the late Mayadhar and Satyavama (Panda) Tripathy.Dr. Tripathy received his early education through the efforts of his family and local village teachers. It was his eldest brother, however, who encouraged Ghana to continue his formal education and begin Medical School in Utkal University at Cuttack, India.In 1952, Ghana was afforded the opportunity to travel to America in order to begin residency training in St. Francis Hospital at Peoria, Illinois. In July 1953, Ghana continued his residency at Aultman Hospital in Canton. In November 1955, a certain recovery room nurse caught his eye and on September 30, 1956, Ghana married the former Rita Landers. For nearly 52 years the couple shared their lives and raised five children.Dr. Tripathy worked as a general surgeon in Veterans’ Hospitals throughout the Eastern and Mid-Western United States from 1957-1963. He served at Holyoke, Massachusetts, Wadsworth, Kansas, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri prior to settling in the Tuscarawas Valley in 1963.From August 9, 1963 – August 8, 1990, Dr. Tripathy diligently served his patients in the Tuscarawas Valley as a general surgeon at Union Hospital. While on staff, he sat on a number of committees and served terms as Medical Staff Secretary and Treasurer, as well as Chief of the Department of Surgery. Through his efforts during his 27 years of dedicated service, upon his retirement he became a member of the Honorary Medical Staff at the Union Hospital; and he has remained a familiar face throughout the Dover Hospital.Dr. Tripathy also shared his time between Union Hospital and the Gradall Company where he served as Plant Physician from 1963 â?? 2000.While his caring and concern for his patients kept him busy, Ghana was also a member of the Dover Kiwanis holding an active membership in the organization for more than 45 years; 30 of which were held with perfect attendance. Additionally, Ghana traveled often to Northern Canada for fishing trips with his friends. In his later years, fishing became more of a past time as he found himself enjoying his cabin in the woods and fished with his grandchildren in the nearby ponds.Moreover, Dr. Tripathy was an avid fan of the Cleveland sports teams, The Indians and the Browns. In 1997, Ghana charted his memoirs through the encouragement of his mother-in-law by authoring his autobiography, Best of Two Worlds. Through the proceeds of copies sold he created a foundation for underprivileged students in his native land in the Orissa Region at India. The foundation, Utkal Charities, Inc., will provide full scholarships to three or four students each year for generations to come.In addition to his wife, Ghana is survived by five loving children, Mark Tripathy of Cincinnati, Sushila (Donnie) Moore of Barberton, Indira (Harlan) Dillon of Alexandria, South Dakota, Dilip Tripathy and fiancé Janet Ostendorf of Cincinnati, and Cynthia (James) Dummermuth of Chillicothe; one brother, Harendra Tripathy of Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, a sister-in-law Fern Baker of Manchester, and a brother-in-law Dewey V. Landers of Canal Fulton.Nine grandchildren; Nathan, Mathilde, and David Tripathy, Lydia and Miles Moore, Colton Dillon, and Christian, Rajani, and Hunter Dummermuth complete the family.In addition to his parents, Ghana is preceded in death by six brothers and two sisters.The Family will receive friends on Sunday, August 31, 2008, from 1:30 – 3:00PM. A 3:00 PM service memorializing Dr. Tripathy will be led by friends and colleagues in the Dover Funeral Center.Those wishing to send the family personal condolences may do so by signing the online guest registry located on the funeral home’s website. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dr. Tripathy may be sent to Utkal Charities, Inc. 131 Oakmont Drive, Dover, Ohio 44622; or to a charity of the giver’s choice.Linn-Hert-Geib330-343-5506www.geibcares.com