Chitra Adarkar, a renowned mathematician and educator, passed away peacefully at her home in Manhattan Beach, California, on October 31, 2025, at the age of 91, surrounded by her three children: Swati, Ashwin, and Sachin. Her family emphasized that her final moments were fittingly spent in a place that held deep personal significance, reflecting the importance of family throughout her life.
A Life Rich in Learning and Achievement
Born Chitra Joshi on September 25, 1934, in Pune, India, she grew up in a nurturing environment. Chitra was the daughter of Shridhar Sarvottam Joshi and Sontara Joshi. She shared her childhood with her brother, Bhaiyya, who was born in 1939. Much of her youth was spent in Varanasi, where her father served as the principal of the Science College at Banaras Hindu University.
Chitra’s academic journey was characterized by exceptional dedication. After graduating from BHU, she received a gold medal for being the top student in the Math, Physics, and Statistics Department. Following her impressive academic career, she successfully passed the Indian Civil Service Exam, becoming one of fewer than 100 candidates selected from nearly one million applicants nationwide.
A Journey from Government to Family Life
Her initial foray into government work took her to the Indian embassy in Vienna. However, a chance encounter in August 1959, while waiting to board a ship from Mumbai, changed her trajectory. There, she met Dilip Adarkar, who was bound for Stanford University to pursue a PhD in mechanical engineering. Their connection was immediate, and by the time they reached Marseille a week later, they had committed to a lifelong partnership.
Chitra and Dilip became engaged shortly after their voyage, and she left her government position to join him at Stanford. They married on December 28, 1960, in Menlo Park. While Dilip completed his doctoral studies, Chitra earned an MSc in statistics. In 1963, the couple moved to Southern California, where Dilip began a successful career in the aerospace industry, and Chitra took on the role of a math teacher at El Camino College.
In their new home in Manhattan Beach, the couple raised their three children. Their family grew over the years to include a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, and seven grandchildren. Chitra’s husband, Dilip, passed away in 2019, yet Chitra remained connected to her passions in her later years.
Even as she aged, Chitra continued to relish activities that had always brought her joy. She enjoyed walking, watching tennis and movies, tending to her garden, reading the newspaper, and engaging with current events on television. Above all, she cherished the time spent with her family. In her final days, she found profound happiness in holding her first great-grandchild, Kavi, who was just three months old.
Throughout her life, Chitra spent a remarkable 85 years in two homes: her parents’ residence in Varanasi during her formative years and her own home in Manhattan Beach for the past 61 years. Her family invites those wishing to honor her memory to consider donating to organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, or the Sierra Club.
