Nizar Bhimji Ladha

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Obituary

Dr. Nizar Bhimji Ladha was born in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) on August 31, 1942, to Bhimji and Fatima Ladha, who themselves came from Gujarat, India. Nizar passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in Cairo, Egypt, on November 17, 2022, while on holiday with his wife of 48 years, Dr. Linda Inkpen. He leaves behind Linda; his sons Justin (Dr. Andrea Singleton), Michael (Keir McIsaac) and Jonathan (Dr. Dana Archibald); granddaughters Madeline, Grace and Anna Clare Ladha; sister Shamim Jiwani (Amin); mother-in-law Beulah Inkpen; and countless other family and friends across the globe.

Nizar completed his early education at boarding school in Tanganyika. At home, his family spoke Gujarati, Kutchi, and Swahili and he learned English in school. He moved to Bournemouth, England, for post-secondary studies and then went on to graduate from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland in Dublin. Shortly after moving to Newfoundland for residence training in 1972, he met Linda as she was also completing her medical training. Nizar and Linda married in St. John’s in 1974 and went on to have a wonderful life together with family and many close friends.

Dr. Ladha had an impressive and storied career in mental health. He practised general and forensic psychiatry for nearly 50 years. Firmly believing that everyone should be treated with the same high respect and dignity, he absolutely loved his work life and helping the many people he encountered in the health care and judicial systems. He continued to work full-time up until his death with no immediate plans to retire, often joking about “Freedom 85.” He was a prolific advocate for destigmatization and support of mental health. He accomplished more in his field than can be listed here, including having served as Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine and terms as President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, Atlantic Provinces Psychiatric Association, and Newfoundland and Labrador Psychiatric Association. Many of his accomplishments have been detailed in media since his passing and the family thanks those outlets for the kind articles.

In his personal life, Nizar had many passions. He loved socializing with his large network of friends. He was particularly fond of enjoying fine food, wines and spirits; hosting dinners and parties; attending many group functions including Rotary, investment and professional journal clubs, and fundraisers for many causes; gardening; travelling; keeping current on politics and world events; and walking and going to the gym right up until his passing. He also loved watching hockey and going to Maple Leafs games in Toronto; he was quite likely the greatest East Indian Leafs fan in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nizar thrived on the cold waters of Conception Bay, introduced to sailing by his late father-in-law, Roland Inkpen. He loved cruising on the family boat Shalloway, and later racing fiercely and competitively with his sons and granddaughters as they grew older. Nizar served as Commodore of the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club in 2000 and made a great contribution to the club and the advancement of junior sailing in the province and beyond. It was via sailing that Nizar first became acquainted with the town of Brigus, where in recent years he bought and renovated an historic home where he loved spending weekends with family and friends all year round.