Dr. Penelope Estabrook Mirchandani died in August 2023 at her home in New Delhi. Her longtime friendship with David Hopper led her to IDRC, where she was the Conference Coordinator throughout the 1970s.
Lyse Lavictoire remembers Penny…
When I started in the IDRC Conference Unit, Penny would fly from either the US or India to supervise and coordinate mostly Board of Governors’ meetings. The Board used to meet abroad every year in the 1970s. Going through Customs was always a challenge for Penny as an American working for a Canadian government agency and living in India.
I have never met anyone like Dr. E, as she was named affectionately by many of her friends and students. She was the epitome of patience as she guided me along the ups and downs of organizing Board meetings and visits abroad, trusting in my abilities (which I did not know I had). I admired her calm demeanor, her listening skills, and her ability to look cool and composed amidst great stress and tight deadlines. I owe this saying to her: “Work like a duck: above water look calm and below water, paddle like mad!”
There were so many amazing layers to Penny! She was an accomplished classical piano player with a doctorate in Western music and trained in ballet as well as tap dancing. Her PhD dissertation included learning the sitar under Ravi Shankar. She also produced his 2016 record album, The Ravi Shankar Collection: Portrait Of Genius.
But her heart was really into teaching music and dance. She was considered the most sought after piano teacher as well as an inspiring teacher of tap dance at the American Embassy and International School (AES) in New Delhi. After retiring from AES, Penny continued teaching piano privately in her home surrounded by innumerable images of the Hindu god, Ganesh and of course, her Steinway piano. By her side were her two Shiatzu dogs.
I saw her last 10 years ago and stayed with her a few days at her home in New Delhi. It was important for me to thank her and express what her support has meant in my life both professionally and personally because I did not know when or if I would ever return to India some day. I asked her to play the piano (of course), and she told me that the song “ The Shadow of Your Smile” always reminded her of me. Now I can say that this song will always remind me of her. Rest in Peace Dr. E. You were loved!
Bulletin 73
July 2024