Page 12 - The Indian EYE 010226

JANUARY 02, 2026
LIFE STORY | The Indian Eye 12

LALL KWATRA

hen we try to sum up Lall Kwatra’s tite for knowledge. The Bergen Record and
life, it’s hard to know where to be- New York Times were constant companions.
Wgin—because his story didn’t begin He was a gentleman and a scholar—a true
with comfort or certainty. It began with survival, renaissance man—equally at home discussing
and it grew into something luminous. engineering, politics, and world history as he
Lall was a child of Partition. When India was talking about food, music, culture, and
and Pakistan became two nations, he and his people.
family were swept into the upheaval as refugees Above all, Lall loved life.
and endured what no family should ever have He didn’t just live it—he tasted it. He
to endure. He lost family and friends—but that soaked it up. He worked, laughed, drank, ate,
experience did not break him or make him bit- and traveled his way through more than ninety
ter. Instead, it shaped him. It gave him a kind years, and he genuinely enjoyed every part of
of steel—quiet, unshowy strength—and a deep it.
tenderness for anyone who was vulnerable, dis- His journeys took him from early travels
placed, or trying to find their footing in life. It from India to Germany, Switzerland, Italy,
gave him perspective, gratitude, and an unshak- Turkey, Bulgaria, and Canada; to adventures
able drive to build a life larger than what history around the world—including Spain, Brazil,
and circumstance tried to take from him. and Thailand—with his best friend Roger; to
Lall may have been small in stature, but trips to Japan, Mexico, and Hawaii with his
he was truly larger than life. He led by exam- beloved wife Pam and son Neal. Whether
ple in everything he did, with a quiet confi- across the globe or to his favorite local restau-
dence earned from a lifetime of charting his rant, he had a rare curiosity about the world
own course. He had a smile that made you feel and its people that simply can’t be taught.
instantly welcome—one that said more than His home in Wyckoff, New Jersey—the
words ever could. home he built and designed himself—became
And build he did: a life, a family, a home, a a living reflection of his spirit: a place of wel-
community, and a legacy. come. There was always a plate, always a drink,
An immigrant from India who arrived always a story, and always a sense that you be-
during the early 1970s wave, Lall first came to longed. He was a legendary host, a master of
Canada before continuing to the United States, the grill, a gifted bartender, and the reason so
where he pursued his doctoral studies at the many people felt like family the moment they
University of South Carolina. A civil engineer walked through the door.
by training and calling, he devoted 25 years to
the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, LALL KWATRA Lall is survived by his beloved wife,
helping shape the infrastructure that keeps this March 15, 1935 – December 18, 2025.
region moving—airports, bridges, and tunnels Pam Kwatra; his son, Neal Kwatra;
that millions pass through without ever know- his daughter-in-law, Katie; and his
ing the careful minds and steady hands behind He was dutiful in a way that redefined re-
them. He took pride in work that lasted. sponsibility. Old school. Tough. Strong and often cherished grandchildren, Anjali, Dev,
But Lall was never only one thing. silent. But beneath that exterior was a soft emo- and Priya. He was a father figure to
Husband. Father. Joyous grandfather. tional core that surfaced the moment someone
Brother. Uncle. Friend. Neighbor. Engineer. was alone, scared, or in trouble. He didn’t just many and the patriarch of his family
Teacher. Entrepreneur. Adventurer. Legendary feel for people—he moved toward them and did in every meaningful way.
storyteller and raconteur. And perhaps most of something about it.
all—the life of the party. From opening his home to young Indian im-
He was all of these, and somehow even migrants just starting their journeys in this coun- He leaves a deep and unmatchable legacy.
more than the list can hold. try, to helping friends and neighbors with taxes, And if he were here to offer one last instruc-
After retirement, Lall began again—this housing, or simply a place to land, Lall treated tion, it would not be to mourn only—though
time as an entrepreneur—launching Curry people with dignity—thoughtfully and respectful- we will miss him fiercely—but to gather. To
King, his pioneering curry sauce brand in the ly—especially when nobody was watching. He saw eat. To laugh. To raise a glass. And above all,
late 1990s. It was a project that blended heri- himself in the hard-working immigrants of Jersey to take care of one another.
tage, hustle, and his belief that food is one of City and Bergen County, and he helped them Because he knew—better than anyone—
the most powerful ways people come together. build stability and pride. When recent ICE raids how lucky he was, and what a privilege this
His love of culture and community also began, he didn’t just read the news—he checked journey of life was.
took him to Carnegie Hall, where he produced in, quietly and personally, to make sure his bud- And if we honor him the way he deserves,
several concerts for Ravi Shankar—another sig- dies and their families were safe. we will carry that forward—not just by remem-
nature Lall chapter: quietly ambitious, impecca- Taking care of people wasn’t something he oc- bering that he lived, but by choosing, again
bly executed, and rooted in the joy of bringing casionally did; it was who he was. and again, to live the way he did: fully, warmly,
people together. Lall was also whip-smart—curious, quick, and protectively, and with our hearts, minds, and
Yet the heart of Lall’s life lived in the every- wonderfully opinionated in the best of ways. He homes wide open for all those who need a
day ways he showed up for others. loved his newspapers and had a voracious appe- place to rest their head.

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