I am writing with very sad news as we start in 2019. 

Our old friend and colleague Sabya Bose passed away recently on October 18, 2018. Many of you will remember Sabya Bose as one of graduate students in the Semiconductor Research Group under Prof. Greg Stillman at U of Illinois (1982-1990).  Others may remember Sabya in subsequent professional contexts, after he graduated in 1989.  Sabya worked for a while at Penn State as a Post-Doc with Prof Dave Miller doing MBE, and then later he worked at MEMC in St. Louis Missouri with Steve Smith and others. In 2002, he began work at Siltronic in Portland Oregon where he has been working ever since.

Sabya died suddenly and unexpectedly on the night of October 18.  He had been sick from a combination of flu like symptoms, digestive distress, and a gum infection, and was at home taking various medications to address each of these. There was little indication of the seriousness of his illness. He went off to bed in his own home in the early evening of Oct 18, saying “I’m pretty sleepy” but agreeing with his wife Soma that he would wake up at midnight to eat something. He died quietly in his sleep later that evening, and his wife Soma found him motionless around midnight when she came up to feed him his smoothie.  This obviously came as a terrible shock to his wife Soma.

Sabya, Silky, and Soma

Sabya is survived by his wife of 22 years, Soma, and their loving daughter Silky, who is only 6 years old.   Sabya’s sudden death has left Soma and Silky in a state of intense loss, shock, and grief;  Sabya was the central and most important person in Soma’s life, and also in little Silky’s life.  Sabya was the main voice in all family decisions. He was also the person Silky anxiously looked forward to seeing at the end of the work day.  He was a kind spirited and well-loved husband, and he was a playful and loving father.  Sabya was also a highly respected engineer at his work at Siltronic. 



I have attached a few pictures of Sabya and Soma and their daughter Silky which convey the feelings of love and warmth and happiness in Sabya’s young family.  Soma had finally succeeded to become pregnant just 6 years ago. This success came after 22 years of marriage, and after many years of trying have a child. Finally, they succeeded, and little Silky was born.  Both Sabya and Soma felt their young daughter Silky was a very special gift.  Sabya said: “Soma, we have to take care to both be in good health; otherwise our daughter will be alone in this world.”  Sadly, Silky has now lost her dear daddy, but she is very fortunate that still has her loving and supportive mother, Soma.  However, it is a very difficult time for both of them!



Soma cared deeply for Sabya and they were very happy together. In our phone conversation, Soma recalled the day of their marriage back in 1996.  She said “I can still remember, when he was looking at me, and walking toward me, …  I cannot ever forget that!  I was thinking- God, I am very happy that I found the right person for me!”  She also said “Sabya wasn’t just good in education, but, at heart, he was a very good person!” and “I cannot think that something like this can happen to our family.  I totally depended on my husband!”   

Silky

There is one recent bit of good news for Soma and Silky; Soma recently found work at Nike in the Portland, with working hours that are compatible with Silky’s school and childcare schedule.  However, there are still financial challenges with the new smaller income. 

We are requesting donations to help Soma and Silky in this devastating loss of Sabya Bose.   

Soma said about us (i.e., Greg Stillman’s research group and Sabya’s other professional friends) , “you guys,  you are all a part of him [Sabya]… Before I came into his life, you were with him… you should all know about what happened…”.      That is why we are reaching out to you with this letter.  We think that Greg Stillman’s  group and Sabya’s later professional friends are a sort of extended family for Soma and Silky; I hope we can pull together and provide some emotional and financial support for Sabya’s family in this terribly sad time.