Irma Budington Obituary

I thought I should add about Irma's love and blessings for my family little more. My son Arup got her love and blessings since he was born in 1973. Arup saw her last in Colorado Springs in 1998 but he and his children (Diba 8 and Jaidev 4)
were always connected to her through me. In our birthday calls and our other calls throughout the year we covered all aspects of our life. I will say about a small event before I close this. In 1990 Me, Alok and Arup visited Irmadidi and Bill in their Wood Terrace house and she insisted we should stay with them for couple of days and we did. Early morning Irmadidi appeared with a tray in her hand with bed tea (though she was a coffee drinker) for us. I was so pleasantly surprised could not say much. My sisters in India only serve tea like that to me. I love you Irmadidi! Maya

I knew Irma Budington when I joined IIT Kanpur Library as an Assistant Librarian in 1969 and my husband knew her since 1971when I came to MIT to work with Irma. I have been in this country since then and both me and my husband remain friends with Budingtons for last 40 years. Last year in October I visited Budingtons in Colorado Springs where they lived. Again both of us visited them on May 2010 and had nice time together. Irma was very special friend for me in all these years. Along with being friend she was more like my sister. When her last name got changed after marriage I started calling her Irmadidi (menas big sister Irma) - she loved that. I will always miss her. My heartfelt condolence to Bill. I hope you are doing well Bill. With regards, Maya and Alok

My wife Meera and I knew Irma from 1968 when she joined IIT Kanpur as Library Consultant in the Kanpur Indo-American Programme initiated in 1960 by President Kennedy and Prime Minister Nehru. I was Professor of Physics there. The Director of IITK Late P K Kelkar asked me concurrently to be Faculty Adviser to the Library so that Irma's full expertise could be utilised. Irma and we were close friends since. She was the moving spirit in making IITK Library one of the best in India. She lived in IIT Kanpur Campus. We took her to see the ancient temples of Khajuraho, Agra's Taj Mahal, and often the nearby Mughal city of Lucknow. The last time I was with Irma and husband Bill was in 2005 for three days in Colorado Springs. That was the last time I saw her. On my arrival she asked what did I read on the two long flights from New York. I said "a book titled Hyperspace". Her prompt comment was "Oh, by NYU theoretical physicist Michio Kaku?" She wasn't a physicist and had retired over a quarter of a century before! We shared a love for books, liberalism, music, art and good wine. And, yes, the magic of Einstein. Her Wood Terrace house was strewn with books. We discussed and debated on "science versus spirituality" endlessly three or four times a year -- over the telephone and on opposite sides. She and Bill were happy to receive our older son Kaushik and his family in their apartment in Colorado Springs during May last. The last time she had seen him was when she left IIT Kanpur in 1970 and he was the same age then as his older son now (11 yr) whom latter she met for the first time. For thirty years without fail she called us on the birthdays of my wife and mine. This year six weeks ago she didn't and I guessed she was in the hospital. Then the worst came. We loved this most remarkable person.

-- Arawind Parasnis, Pune, India. Formerly (1960-89) Professor of Physics IIT Kanpur.

I had the pleasure of getting to know Irma over the past ten years as her physical therapist. She was an amazing woman and I had tremendous respect for her. We shared many wonderful conversations about life, the ever-changing world, her views on myself as a business woman and many other topics. I always looked forward to our Tuesday treatment sessions and visits afterwards. I was very saddened to hear of her death and I will miss her. She had a positive impact on my life and I am grateful to have known her.
Melinda Couch, PT