Jasjit Singh Bindra, PhD, passed away on Friday, February 23rd at his home in Mumford Cove surrounded by his family. He was 64, and fought a courageous four-year battle with esophageal cancer.
Dr. Bindra was born in Rawalpindi in the Punjab region of India, which after partition in 1947 became part of Pakistan. Due to his father’s various postings as part of the Indian Civil Service, Dr. Bindra lived and traveled extensively in India. He completed his BA and MS in Organic Chemistry at Christ Church College in Kanpur, which is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Bindra then moved on to the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in Lucknow where he completed his PhD in Organic Chemistry. While at CDRI, he met not only a scientific partner, but also the love of his life, Ranjna. They were married for 37 years.
In 1969, Dr. Bindra immigrated to the United States to pursue a post-doctoral fellowship at Indiana University-Bloomington. Two years later, he moved east to begin his scientific career at Pfizer Inc, where he would spend the next 32 years growing with the company. He quickly rose to the level of a research director, the first one with a non-US doctorate. During his career at Pfizer, Dr. Bindra contributed critical insights into the mechanisms of prostaglandin synthesis, and is the author of several patents. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Bindra founded Pfizer’s Naturaceuticals Group and served as Director of Special Projects.
Dr. Bindra is the author of several research articles and scientific books, including some with his wife. One book, Creativity in Organic Synthesis, includes a foreword written by Nobel Laureate, E.J. Corey. His passion for writing extended well beyond science. Readers of the New London Day may remember him for his frequent witty and provocative contributions to the Perspective and Editorial sections. Dr. Bindra was an active member of the Rotary Club of Groton for many years.
Dr. Bindra is survived by his wife Ranjna, his daughter Ratna, his son Ranjit, his son-in-law Raja, and daughter-in-law Kavitha. In addition, he is survived by his mother, Gobind, his older brother, Avinder and his family, as well as his two younger sisters, Leena, Vinita, and their families.
A reception for friends and family is scheduled from 5 to 8 pm on Wednesday, February 28, 2007, at the Groton Inn & Suites, in Groton, CT. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in Dr. Jasjit Bindra’s memory to the American Cancer Society.
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