June 13, 1935 – October 25, 2024
It is with great sadness but a lifetime of gratitude that we announce the passing of Pritam S. Dhillon on October 25, 2024, at the age of 89. Pritam was born on June 13, 1935, in Montgomery District, in what was then part of British India, to Hazura Dhillon and Balbir Dhillon.
In the midst of the partition of India in 1947, Pritam and his family migrated to the India side of Punjab, permanently settling in their ancestral village of Nangal Maroof. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Khalsa College in Amritsar, followed by master’s studies in economics from Punjab University College in Hoshiarpur. He then immigrated to the United States to pursue doctoral studies at Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 1964 with a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics. He then became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Cook College, Rutgers University, in New Jersey, in 1966. Pritam met and married Rupinder K. Dhillon (née Ghuman) on June 16, 1968. After having two twin boys in 1971, they built a home for themselves in Kendall Park, New Jersey, beginning in 1973. He rose to the rank of Associate Professor, also in 1971, and eventually received tenure. During that time, the Dhillon family enjoyed a vibrant middle-class life with a wonderful community of families and friends both within and beyond central New Jersey. Pritam retired from teaching in 2001, concluding 35 years of dedicated service to the university, department, and legions of students. He and his wife finally enjoyed retired life, first in Dayton, New Jersey, and later in Turlock, California.
Pritam is survived by his wife Rupinder; sons Harry Dhillon and Manny Dhillon; daughters-in-law Haspreet Dhillon and Joti Dhillon; and grandchildren Harrison, Alisha and Amir. Those people, and many others, whose lives benefited in countless ways from having known him, will be his lasting legacy.
A funeral service will be held under the direction of Allen Mortuary in Turlock, California, on Sunday, November 3, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, followed by a religious service at Gurudwara Sahib Turlock from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
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