Dr. Sunita Gulati

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Sunita Gulati, Professor Emerita at UMass Chan Medical School, who died unexpectedly on December 6, 2025, at the age of 74.

She is survived by her husband, Nerendra Batra. She leaves behind three sisters and three brothers; Sushma Mehra, Dr. Susan Prakash, Smita Gulati, Sunil Gulati, Sanjeev Gulati, and Dr. Melvin Gulati. She also leaves behind her sisters-in-law, Sarah and Rupa, as well as her many nieces and nephews and their children, whom she adored deeply.

Born in Mandalay, Burma, Sunita grew up surrounded by a large and close-knit family. Her early years were marked by time spent assisting her uncle, a physician, an influence that sparked a lifelong curiosity in science and a devotion to service. Later she moved from Mandalay to Massachusetts to live with her brother, Suresh Gulati, his wife Sarah and their 4 children. She developed a close and lasting bond with her new extended family. In later years, Sunita helped her brother Melvin immigrate to the United States, creating a new relationship with him and his wife Rupa.

Sunita earned her Doctor of Science degree from the Boston University School of Public Health, after which she joined the BU faculty. There, she became foundational to the development of a dynamic and collaborative laboratory group led by Dr. Peter Rice, later joined by colleagues Dr. Sanjay Ram, Dr. Jutamas Shaughnessy, and many others. When the lab moved to UMass Chan in 2005, Sunita continued to be its steady center—an accomplished scientist, a generous mentor, and a beloved colleague. Her dedication to her research and her students shaped the careers of countless scientists who carry her influence forward.

Beyond her professional life, Sunita embraced life fully. She loved to travel, finding joy in exploring new places and cultures. She was also an avid cook and devoted gardener, cultivating trees and plants with the same patience, care, and attentiveness she brought to her work and relationships. Each year, she delighted in delivering bushels of freshly grown fruit from her garden to family and friends and neighbors, a tradition that reflected her generosity and love. She will be remembered for her warmth, her dedication to work and family, her love of travel, and her unwavering generosity of spirit.

Her legacy lives on in the science she helped build, the people she mentored, and the family she loved so dearly.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 14 at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. www.milesfuneralhome.com