Mr. Ashok Bhargava, age 79, most recently of Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on the morning of November 23, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Usha, his children Alka, Anupam and Anjali, his daughter-in-law Mylène, and his granddaughters Arielle, Camille and Claire.
Mr. Bhargava was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, and grew up in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. His childhood in Jaipur was coloured by participation in innumerable musical and cultural programs along with his sister Shachi and brothers Bharat, Harsh, and Vikram. They were avid participants in events ranging from performing on All India Radio broadcasts to the annual Jaipur Ram Lila festival. His father, Professor Bhagwan Das Bhargava was the founding principal of the Commerce College at Rajasthan University, and his mother, Mrs. Sharda Bhargava, was a Member of Parliament in India from 1952-1966.
After completing his secondary education in Jaipur and becoming a gold medallist in the Rajasthan board exams, Mr. Bhargava gained entrance to the competitive Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, West Bengal. He graduated at the age of 20 with a Bachelors (B. Tech Honors) degree in Metallurgical Engineering.
In 1963, Mr. Bhargava was selected by his first employer, Jaipur Metals, to represent them in a year long collaboration with the Fuji Denki Company in Osaka, Japan. While working in Japan, he found time to enjoy a variety of new experiences, from downhill skiing to traditional Japanese art forms. When he returned to India, he travelled via the United States and Europe, confirming a life-long love affair with travel, experiencing different cultures and learning languages from around the world. He fluently spoke several Indian languages as well as Japanese and German, and continued to learn other languages throughout life.
Mr. Bhargava married is lifelong partner, Usha, in 1964. In 1971, they emigrated to Ontario, Canada with their two young children. Their third child would be born in Canada, and in 1979, they moved to Cheshire, Connecticut, where they remained until moving to New Jersey in 2018.
During the course of a sterling career as a metallurgical engineer in industry, Mr. Bhargava invented a number of super alloys and was awarded with over 100 US and international patents as sole inventor. Some of his inventions revolutionized the use of copper as a conductor in electronic devices. This innovation created a very strong alloy without having to use the extremely toxic element Beryllium, which had previously been the standard for such alloys. This not only put his employer on the map globally, but also resulted in Mr. Bhargava, despite not being an academic, being asked to present papers and speak at scientific conferences around the world. Mr. Bhargava’s technical innovation and leadership was an asset to his employers, including Noranda Metals, Waterbury Rolling Mills, Olin Corp, and Diehl-The Miller Company, as well as firms he consulted with after his retirement.
During these years of professional achievement, Mr. Bhargava was unwavering in his dedication to family, friends and community. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and community member, participating in numerous activities including The Lions Club, Toastmasters International, as well as a variety of Indian cultural associations. He also possessed a beautiful singing voice and enjoyed playing musical instruments including the flute (bansuri), guitar, keyboards and harmonica. He could as easily sing Western music as Indian music, and enjoyed listening to a broad range of musical genres, from classical to rock and pop, to music from across the world. A deeply spiritual person, Mr. Bhargava was a dedicated Bhajan (devotional singing) group member at the Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society, where he was a founding member.
Throughout his life, Mr. Bhargava had a spirit of adventure, and was undaunted by obstacles in his path. Nowhere was his positivity and courage more apparent than in his 20-year battle with cancer. He went through multiple gruelling treatments in the years that spanned from his working life into retirement, from raising children to enjoying his grandchildren, all the while celebrating the seasons of life with his beloved wife.
Mr. Bhargava had great gusto for all that life has to offer. He kept his youthful spirit by being a lifelong learner and always being the first one to try new things. His contagious sense of humor, including his love of wordplay and puns was legendary amongst his family and friends. He always loved a good conversation and was a great listener and a gifted storyteller. He was a fan of sports ranging from Indian cricket to American basketball and football.
With his joie de vivre and effortless charm, Mr. Bhargava made friends wherever he went. Above all, he loved people and had kindness for everyone he encountered. He had tremendous positive impact on people he met in every part of his life, whether a colleague, a family member, a friend, a neighbour, or a stranger who had the good fortune to cross his path.
He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Christine Cuoco and Ruby Memorial. Family and friends may share memories and offer condolences on Mr. Bhargava's Memorial Page at: https://memorials.rubymemorialhome.com/ashok-bhargava/3663933/service-details.php.
Funeral Pooja, Viewing & Cremation / Last Rites will take place on Friday, November 30th 2018, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Franklin Memorial Park Crematory & Chapel, 1800 Rt. 27 in North Brunswick, NJ 08902.

A Memorial service will take place Saturday, December 1, from 10 am to 12 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 50 Cherry Hill Road in Princeton, NJ



In Lieu of Flowers, Kindly make donations in Mr. Bhargava's Memory to:
https://www.iwmf.com/how-you-can-help/support-member-services-and-research

To send flowers to the family of Ashok Bhargava, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.