Sri
Jay Hyman
Probini
Foundation and ISPaD: Indian Subcontinent Partition Documentation Project Tribute
Sachi
G. Dastidar
Probini
& ISPaD: Partition Documentation Center, New York, Report
We are deeply saddened to
inform you that we have lost one of our closest friends from inception of our
two non-profits: Mr. Jay Hyman. We are sorry to bring this news during Jewish
holy days, and during Easter weekend. Sri Hyman, as he preferred to call
himself, was a Probini Foundation Board Member, and during Probini Board’s last
meeting on Saturday, 7 March 2020, that he joined driving 25 miles after
finishing a class, also wrote a check for the cause, though he was struggling
financially. He was known to Dastidar family since 1971, and was the first
person Sachi met in the States. He was the first person Shefali met in America
in 1974 at the JFK airport of New York. Sachi met his family in Miami and
Brooklyn, and Sri Hyman came running to meet Sachi’s mother in 1987 when she
visited New York offering her a Jewish calendar giving time of sunrise and
sunset helping Ma, and several Jewish mementos and food.
Probini Foundation honored him with Anath Bandhu (Friend of the Orphan) award for his dedicated help to the poor and the orphaned in Bangladesh and India. Since the award he adopted to write “Sri” (Mr./Ms.) before his name as many others do. (Sri means Mr., Ms, Mrs., beauty, elegance and more.)
Mr. Jay Hyman was a
regular attendee of Partition Center’s social-cultural-political-educational
events, and attended all Partition Center Conferences beginning in 2010. He
donated funds for publication of ISPaD: Partition Center Journal for the past
several years. He always donated Jewish, Caribbean, Hispanic food for Partition
Center and Probini events that he brought from Brooklyn where he lived. At 2019
Probini Annual lunch he was the presenter of award to Mr. & Mrs. Mihir
& Aamala Sen.
Mr. Hyman had a master’s
degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a master’s in Social Work. He worked
at a senior center in Brooklyn, and died of Covid-19 virus.
Please join Probini and
ISPaD in offering puja and prayer for his soul! On Shanti! Om Peace!
Hyman (left) presenting
Award to Mihir & Amala Sen, May 2019
India Independence and
Partition Event, August 2019 (Hyman, right)
At 2018 Conference at
SUNY at Old Westbury (Hyman, front right)
At 2019 Partition Center
Conference and Journal Release (Hyman, 3rd from right)
Spiritual Offering for Jay at an Ashram in Bangladesh
On
April 15, 2020 puja-prayer for moksha (spiritual liberation) and mukti (salvation)
for Jay Hyman was conducted by Hindu Monk Rev. Swami Satyapriyananda at Pranab
Ashram in Bangladesh. Hyman, a Board Member, helped the ashram build a boys’
dormitory through Probini Foundation. Swami performed stuti (devotional praise)
for Hyman at the beginning of the service.
Additionally, Dastidar family donated funds in his memory to feed the poor during the Covid virus lock down to Tuichawng village in Mizoram State, to Bankura orphanage, and to Kolkata city’s Majherhaat slum, all in India, and to Madaripur and Pirojpur ashrams, and to Dhaka, all in Bangladesh. Hyman helped education in all these places through Probini Foundation.
Jay Hyman's (Samadhi) Grave at Staten Island's Hebrew Burial Ground
Visit by Dastidar Family on June 15, 2021
Shuvo is Offering Tributes with Notes, Stones and Flowers for His Uncle Jay-Kaku
Staten Island Hebrew Cemetery Map
3 comments:
THIS IS TRUE GRIEF. Mr. Jay Hyman, a close friend from day#1 of the Dastidar family’s life in America. He was far from just a friend of the family: he has been an Eager, Stalwart, Trustworthy and Wonderful Supporter of both our NGO’s at their inception and on through the years - having given much reliable participation in our two non-profits, putting aside much else if the two nonprofits needed assistance. Sri Hyman, as he was grateful to be called, while Joyeeta & Shuvo have always seen him as a part of the family and have been sure they referred to him as their “Jay Kaku” (uncle).
Thank you all for paying tribute to Jay’s contributions to your organization and for honoring his memory. Jay was one of my dearest and oldest friends. He often spoke about his involvement with your group and of the joy it brought him. He was one of the kindest and most generous people I knew; smart, funny, silly, so engaged with life. He was one of a kind! News that he had succumbed to Covid 19 absolutely broke my heart. My grief at his loss is profound and his spirit will always be with me. Perhaps I too can join in the work of the Partition Center and carry forth his commitment to helping the people of India and Bangladesh. I have heard so much about the Dastidar family - one day I hope to meet you and your fellow Partition members. Thank you again for keeping Jay’s memory alive! Jessica Slotkin
Thank you all for paying tribute to Jay’s contributions to your organization and for honoring his memory. Jay was one of my dearest and oldest friends. He often spoke about his involvement with your group and of the joy it brought him. He was one of the kindest and most generous people I knew; smart, funny, silly, so engaged with life. He was one of a kind! News that he had succumbed to Covid 19 absolutely broke my heart. My grief at his loss is profound and his spirit will always be with me. Perhaps I too can join in the work of the Partition Center and carry forth his commitment to helping the people of India and Bangladesh. I have heard so much about the Dastidar family - one day I hope to meet you and your fellow Partition members. Thank you again for keeping Jay’s memory alive! Jessica Slotkin
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