Shivdev Singh

Celebrating the life of Dr. Shivdev Singh Sidhu
Gifted to his family on June 25, 1935.
Called by God on July 8, 2017

Son/Brother/Husband/Father/Surgeon/Artist/Author/Mentor/Friend

We loved his humor, his energy, his mentorship, and his acceptance and support of all those who entered his life.

Dr. Shivdev Singh was born on June 25, 1935, in Barnala, Punjab, to Doctor Gurdial Singh and Sardarni Tej Kaur, members of the royal family of Nabha, known as Lodgharias. Shivdev grew up with extended family in Nabha State, where his father was posted as a house surgeon. After serving as a surgeon in World War II, then accepting a scholarship for Fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons at Edinburgh, his beloved father was appointed Professor of Surgery at Medical College Patiala. Shivdev was the second of four children, and full of mischief and curiosity from an early age.

In college, Shivdev was a track and field athlete, holding national records in javelin and relay. He followed in his father's footsteps, doing an M.B.B.S. in surgery at Patiala Medical School in 1958, and a Masters in Surgery in Amritsar in 1961. The following year, he began his career as an Assistant Professor at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Research and Education in Chandigarh. In March 3, 1963, he married his beautiful and vivacious wife, Bira Nat, who represented Punjab in five sports at a national level, and was captain of the India Field Hockey team.

Soon after the birth of his daughter, Manrita, in 1964, and his son, Tejbir, in 1966, Shivdev was invited to become a cardiothoracic surgery research fellow at Harvard Medical School, where he worked on the development of the artificial heart with pioneering surgeon Dr. Bernhard. In 1967, he was accepted into the pediatric surgery fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital and was privileged to train with Dr. Gross, the father of pediatric surgery. Shivdev often told many interesting and funny stories about this time. He did his Fellowship in the Royal College of Surgery in general and pediatric surgery in Canada, and was elected a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in the US. After that, he was welcomed back to PGI in Chandigarh in 1969 as an Associate Professor of Pediatric Surgery. In 1971, he and Bira decided to come back to the US for surgical residency. Following that, the family settled in Pennsylvania where he started his private practice. During these years, he continued to do further fellowship training in pediatric urology in Paris, the U.K., and Barcelona with the leaders in the field. After Tej and Manrita finished college, in 1985 the family decided to move to California where Shivdev continued to practice his craft, on the staff of Children's Hospital LA as well as other hospitals.

During his life, Dr. Singh was a patron of education, Sikh culture, and the arts, supporting the folk music of Punjab and promoting Punjabi culture. He and his friend Dr. Rishpal Singh founded a music festival to resurrect near-forgotten folk instruments and support the musicians. They sponsored scholarships for underprivileged students, many of whom were the first in their family to attend college. The music festival eventually became self-supporting and is now a part of Punjabi University of Patiala. Shivdev also served the Sikh community through service on the Sikh Council of North America, Sikh Youth camps and as first President of the Medical College of Patiala Alumni Group.

Following his retirement from medicine in 1991, Shivdev pursued other passions with the same vigor and purpose as the pursuit of medicine. These included classical Spanish guitar and, most significantly, his youthful hobby of drawing and painting (his anatomy drawings remain in exhibit at Patiala Medical College). He studied at Antelope Valley College, the Art Institute at Westlake Village, and the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art. Shivdev was fortunate to have four art exhibits, in Lancaster California, Chandigarh, India and two in Delhi, India. The last two exhibits, in 2009 and 2015, were accompanied by books, the last entitled "Beyond the Village Pond," a collection of his paintings, folk songs and stories of his childhood in rural Punjab. His artwork now enlivens homes around the world.

One of the most joyful aspects of Shivdev and Bira's life together was world travel. There are many wonderful memories of trips with dearest friends and extended family, whether visiting each other's homes around the world, or traveling to locales including Greece, Portugal, Africa, Egypt, Venezuela and others.

In 2015, just before his book launch and exhibit, Shivdev was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With his and Bira's typical panache, he insisted that the show must go on, flying to Delhi for the opening, and then flying back to Los Angeles just in time for major surgery the following day. As with everything else in his life, he fought this disease with tremendous discipline, intellect, and grace. This difficult journey was made as tolerable as possible by the tireless, loving support and patience of his beloved life partner, Bira, the entire extended family from both sides, and lifelong friends. He passed peacefully at home on the morning of July 8, 2017, having given life his absolute all.

Shivdev Singh left behind an example of someone who loved and was loved, who sought out adventure and challenge, who was fortunate enough to enjoy two careers in one lifetime, and who inspired, supported and cajoled many individuals to aim higher in their education and profession. We will remember him with gratitude, and try to live up to his legacy.

Shivdev leaves behind his wife (Bira), son (Tejbir), daughter (Manrita), daughter-in-law (Meena), son-in-law (Tom), grandchildren (Aidan, Ela, Kahil, Mira and Mikhail) and beloved family and lifelong friends. We have unending gratitude to all the family and friends that have supported us during this time- sharing meals, accompanying Shiv and Bira to appointments, telling happy stories, or simply being with us- whether from Los Angeles, around the country, or around the world.

Dr. Alka Pande Ph.D., Curator Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi:
"Here is a master at work- oblivious to the noise of the world outside, listening to music in his heart, unknowingly creating jewels of incredible beauty, to be shared and enjoyed by the world around him. Switching from surgery to art, Shivdev did not find this shift very challenging as it calls for a similar intensity of focus, the single-mindedness of intent, and the very same steadiness of hand that now drive his watercolors and oils. Subconsciously, he still wears the surgeon's hat and the surgeon in him still breathes deeply in his heart. Nevertheless, this easy, charming manner belies the steely determination and the relentless pursuit of perfection. However, he discards much of his output, often giving away skillful works to the models that pose for him, or the the cleaning lady who helps keep the studio clean."


Tejbir Sidhu
"Papa, you were my hero, mentor, inspiration and unshakeable foundation. I remember pretending to be asleep in the back of the car, as a little boy, just so you would carry me into the house on cold winter nights. I can't believe you won't be there anymore to answer my calls and tell me it's all going to be OK. I miss you terribly but you will inspire me eternally."

Manrita Sidhu, MD, FSIR:
"My Papa was a strong, refined, proud and brilliant person. He always knew I could do anything I dreamed, and helped me believe I could. Papa, no matter how ill you were, you still could talk to me about astronomy, the behavior of the birds and squirrels in the yard, and politics. I learned so much watching you in the hospital as you joked around and made friends with every nurse or aide that you met. Even as a patient you took time to mentor, advise and inspire the residents. I treasured our walks in the beautiful countryside in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. You pointed out ferns, rabbits, horses, and berries, as befits a double major in botany and zoology. This got me interested in the wonders and beauty of plants and animals for a lifetime. As a trainee, I watched you do a gastroschisis repair in an infant once. The surgery was the most beautiful I had ever seen- a thing of control, beauty, and precision. You were taught by the fathers of pediatric surgery- demanding, difficult, and exacting professors- and it showed. Dad, your stories have made me laugh, and taught me timeless wisdom that has made a huge difference in my life. I always admired your fantastic, decades-long, cross-continental friendships. Your amazing, quirky, brilliant, loving, and accomplished friends and our families were the village that raised us. I loved all the times you gathered and told hilarious stories of your escapades. Your powerful will and athleticism helped you beat the odds throughout your life. You have been a huge support to me and Gola, and calm and generous sounding board for everyone. You are one of our favorite people and heroes."

Madhu Jawanda, MD:
"The most important thing about my Mamaji, was his love for family. He truly loved being with people. That is when you saw the twinkle in his eyes and heard his jolly laugh. Whether it was teasing Bira Aunty, or reminiscing with my Mom and all his cousins, I could see his whole being just lighten. Uncle had always encouraged us to keep our relations with friends and family because, at the end of the day, it is family and friends that carry us through this journey of life."