Varsha Chiminlal Shah

(Durham, NC USA) – Varsha Chiminlal Shah died Tuesday, December 3, 2025, at the age of 84. She was born in the city of Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, India on April 11th, 1940. 

Exhibiting a drive and independence that would characterize her entire life, Varsha left India at the age of 23 to pursue an advanced degree in Operations Research at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. There she studied mathematics, statistics and the then emerging field of computer programming. Throughout her life, she worked in several well known Triangle institutions including Duke School of Business, the Research Triangle Institute, Parexel and the UNC School of Public Health. 

Her technical aptitude never dampened her love of art and languages. She spoke four languages fluently (English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi), studied the ancient language of Sanskrit and even dabbled in German later in life. She also loved movies (both Hindi and American) and television, especially sitcoms. After moving to the Triangle in the late 60s, she became a devotee of college basketball and could often be found glued to her TV during March Madness. 

Varsha Shah is survived by her son and his wife, Kamalesh Rao and Angela Chou, her daughter and husband, Neela Rao McDade and Dr. Henry Cooper McDade III, and her grandson, Zain Cooper McDade. 

A funeral service will be held for Ms. Shah at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 12th, 2024, at Hall Wynne Funeral home in downtown Durham. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital for children, one of the many charities Varsha gave to in her lifetime. 

The family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.

Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.