Arun Purushottam Phatak

June 23, 1938 — July 24th, 2026

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Arun Purushottam Phatak passed away on July 24, 2026 at the age of 88 in the presence of his loved ones.

He was born on June 23, 1938 in Pune, India to Manorama and Purushottam. He studied veterinary science at Bombay University, earning a BVSC and an MVSC. In 1964, he married Nalini Lele. They moved to Uruli Kanchan in 1968, where Arun worked as a veterinarian specializing in dairy cattle. This move from city to countryside was soon surpassed by a transcontinental one. In 1975, Arun came to the United States with his family to pursue a PhD at the University of Minnesota—an exceptional endeavor at a time when it was rare for veterinarians to immigrate to the U.S. from India. In Minnesota, Arun made academic strides and forged friendships.

He and his family moved to the Central Valley of California in 1982, where he lived and worked for the remainder of his life. Arun was a frequent contributor to numerous dairy industry magazines and academic publications. As he built a strong professional presence in California, he also traveled the world as a dairy cattle reproduction consultant. Arun’s work brought him to six continents, and he accumulated a myriad of stories from his travels. A leader in his field, he mentored veterinarians early in their careers.

Arun was an erudite man with a vibrant sense of humor. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the world and its people. From novels to scientific magazines, Arun was a voracious reader. He loved movies, plays, American folk songs, Indian classical and film music, westerns, and detective stories. He enjoyed reading and studying Marathi and Sanskrit writings and scriptures. Arun enjoyed discussing history, science, politics, nature, religion, and—of course—cattle.

Arun was preceded in death by his younger brother Uday. He will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his wife Nalini; sister Asha and brother Mohan; son Sanjay (Kristin) and grandsons Ashok, Arrik, and Aksel; daughter Vaishali Dixit (Sanjay) and granddaughter Priya; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Arun will never be forgotten. His booming voice, sweet tooth, timely quotations from the Bhagavad Gita, and love for his family will stay forever with all who knew him.