Desmond Roychaudhuri, Architect-Longstanding
September 24, 1943 — September 25, 2024
It is with deeply saddened hearts, the Roychaudhuri family announces the passing of Desmond Roychaudhuri on September 25, 2024, at the age of 81. Survived by his beloved wife of 57 years Carmen Theresa Roychaudhuri, his four sons; Dilip, Dipak and wife Sharon, Romen and wife Rahima, and Desmond Jr. and cherished grandchildren; Yasmine, Brandon, Christina, Anjali, Aliya, Isa, Uma, and Nia Nora and precious great grandchildren; Saje and Lotus and brother; Winston Burgess.
Born September 24, 1943, in Calcutta, India to the late Edith Francis, a Head Matron at PG Hospital, and Dwijendranath Roychaudhuri, a trade advisor and diplomat. Desmond met his soulmate Carmen in Kharagpur, West Bengal when they were teenagers. He was accepted into the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, India where he graduated with an honors degree of the highest distinction in Architecture.
Desmond married Carmen and together they moved to Canada and began a new life in the small town of Sudbury, Ontario.Eventually settling in Toronto, they were inseparable and shared their love for one another through jive dancing, rock & roll, entertaining family and friends, and raising their four young boys into successful men. Desmond would go on to sponsormany of his extended family members so they could live betterlives.
He used his architectural expertise to create immaculate buildings including the Baitul Islam and Masjid Mubarak Mosques, Mississauga Ram Mandir, Gurdwara Dasmesh Darbar and Sri Guru Singh Gurdwara, the primary design of the Bramalea City Centre Mall, and Shopper’s World Mall. Through his generosity, knowledge sharing and true selflessness, he was well respected in the community. He enjoyed spending time with his family, and loved cooking, collecting coins, and listening to classic rock & roll music. Always the life of the party, he brought great joy wherever he went and found great happiness in bringing a smile to everyone’s face.
Desmond Roychaudhuri embodies charity, the highest form of love in Christian thought. He provided friendship, advice, jobs, and love to everyone he encountered. He selflessly offered guidance, seeking no recognition, finding joy in others’ success and happiness.
St. Augustine wrote,
“Charity is a virtue which when our affections are perfectly ordered, unites us to God for by it we love him”.
In life he did what Jesus commanded in Matthew 22:38-39,
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind…thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Desmond will be profoundly missed by his family and leaves behind a wealth of stories and memories that will be cherished forever. His passing will be deeply felt, and his life will be joyously remembered and long celebrated by all who were fortunate enough to have known him.
God bless him, may his soul rest in eternal peace.
In keeping with his wishes, the family would appreciate any additional donations which will be forwarded to the Church of Transfiguration, the Society of St. Pius X, Toronto, Ontario:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-society-of-st-pius-x-ontario/ or https://ontario.sspx.ca/en/news/donations-and-sunday-collection-our-toronto-church-23869 or via parish office secretary Secretary.toronto@fsspx.ca