Chitra Adarkar, a beloved mother and accomplished statistician, died on October 31, 2025, at the age of 91. She passed away peacefully at her home in Manhattan Beach, California, surrounded by her three children, Swati, Ashwin, and Sachin. Her family was the cornerstone of her long and fulfilling life, reflecting her deep commitment to loved ones.
Born Chitra Joshi on September 25, 1934, in Pune, India, she was the daughter of Shridhar Sarvottam Joshi and Sontara Joshi. She spent her formative years in Varanasi, where her father served as the principal of the Science College at Banaras Hindu University. Summers at her maternal grandparents’ home in Pune were filled with joy, surrounded by a large family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Chitra’s academic excellence was evident early on. After graduating from Banaras Hindu University, she received a gold medal for being the top student in the Math, Physics, and Statistics Department. Her dedication led her to take the Indian Civil Service Examination, where she was selected from a pool of nearly 1 million applicants. Her first role was with the Indian embassy in Vienna, although her diplomatic career was brief.
A pivotal moment in her life occurred on August 4, 1959, when she met Dilip Adarkar at the Mumbai docks. Both were set to travel to Europe, but Dilip was on his way to begin a PhD program at Stanford University. Their immediate connection blossomed into engagement by the time their ship reached Marseille a week later. They married on December 28, 1960Menlo Park, California, where Chitra joined Dilip at Stanford, obtaining an MSc in statistics while he completed his doctorate.
By 1963, the couple relocated to Southern California, where Dilip embarked on a successful career in the aerospace industry, and Chitra began teaching mathematics at El Camino College. The couple established their home in Manhattan Beach, where they raised their three children. Their family later expanded to include a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, and seven grandchildren.
Dilip Adarkar passed away in 2019, yet Chitra continued to find joy in life’s simple pleasures. In her later years, she enjoyed walks, watching tennis and movies, tending to her garden, solving crossword puzzles, and keeping up with daily news. Most cherished were her moments spent with family, especially during her final days when she held her first great-grandchild, three-month-old Kavi.
Chitra Adarkar devoted 85 of her 91 years to two homes: her parents’ house in Varanasi for the first 24 years and her home in Manhattan Beach for the subsequent 61.
Those wishing to honor Chitra’s memory may consider donating to organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, or the Sierra Club. Her legacy of love and achievement will continue to inspire those who knew her.
