Dr. Jaswinder S. Sidhu (1940-2016), a dedicated physician, selfless leader in the Sikh and Indian communities, and, above all, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2016.
Dr. Sidhu was born in Gilgit, India, on May 13, 1940, to Dr. Kartar Singh and Amar Kaur. In 1963, Dr. Sidhu obtained his medical degree from Amritsar Medical College. A scholar-athlete, Dr. Sidhu earned the 2nd highest grades in his state and he was captain of his medical school's cricket team. In 1964, Dr. Sidhu married Satwinder K. Sidhu, and they had their first child, Patwinder, a year later.
The three moved to join Dr. Sidhu's brother, Dr. Rajinder S. Sidhu, and his family, in Montreal. There, Dr. Sidhu completed training at McGill University. He received further training at Grasslands Hospital in New York and the Medical College of Virginia, in Richmond. In 1972, Dr. Sidhu and his family settled in Maryland, where Dr. Sidhu worked for over forty years as a nephrologist at local hospitals and in private practice. In 1978, Dr. Sidhu's second son, Dawinder, was born.
Dr. Sidhu helped build longstanding cultural and religious institutions in the Washington, DC area. For example, he helped found the Guru Nanak Foundation of America, in Silver Spring, and he served as President of the Indian-American Medical Association.
Dr. Sidhu's legacy can be found in the patients he treated, the residents he mentored, the organizations he helped established, and the friends and family he supported. Dr. Sidhu will be remembered most, not for what he did, but how he lived: with honesty, humility, and integrity. He will be deeply missed, but his impact and his example of a truthful life will live on.
Where there is no family,
The Name of God shall be your only support.
- SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB
Satwinder “Goody” K. Sidhu (1944-2025) was born in Tapa, Punjab, India, on September 20, 1944, to Bhagwan S. Matharu and Gurdial K. Matharu. The following year, the three moved to Karol Bagh, Delhi, India, where Satwinder spent her childhood. The eldest sibling, Satwinder helped raise her brothers and sisters, Darshan, Jaswinder, Jasbir, and Jaswant. Satwinder attended Khalsa School and earned her bachelor’s degree from Khalsa College. She took a particular interest in history and mathematics.
In 1964, Satwinder married Dr. Jaswinder S. Sidhu, and they had their first child, Patwinder, in Chandigarh, India. The family navigated a new world, living in Montreal, New York, Richmond, and Upper Marlboro before settling in Potomac. In 1978, Satwinder’s second son, Dawinder, was born in Maryland.
Together, Dr. and Mrs. Sidhu formed a perfect union based on practical and spiritual values, including hard work, living truthfully, and serving all. As with her husband, Satwinder helped build institutions and community. She was a founding member of a women’s prayer group at the Guru Nanak Foundation of America (GNFA); she coordinated several social, spiritual, and singing groups; and after the death of her husband she established a support group for widows.
Satwinder lived a life of pure selflessness. She gave every piece of her soul to help others, sacrificing for her family, friends, and strangers. In countless ways, she uplifted and assisted others, including by driving the elderly to GNFA, caring for other children as her own, and cooking for sick friends. Her compassion and kindness was matched only by her humility and happiness in being in a position to serve others. If anyone was an example of God and His virtues, it was Satwinder.
For her family and others, she was a moral compass, guiding star, and constant source of wisdom, strength, and comfort.
Satwinder passed away peacefully in her home on October 6, 2024. She is survived by her two sons and her grandchildren, Justin and Sasha. Satwinder sponsored three of her siblings for citizenship. Her family, their roots, and her example of a virtuous, selfless life will be her enduring and eternal legacy.
In 2004, the Amar Kartar Foundation was established in loving memory of Dr. (Maj.) Kartar Singh and Amar Kaur, parents of Dr. Jaswinder S. Sidhu, who were heavily involved in humanitarian efforts in Punjab, India, particularly in Chandigarh, Punjab, India. They embodied, practiced, and passed on the fundamental Sikh value of selfless service to all, irrespective of caste or creed. It is this spirit that the Amar Kartar Foundation sought to honor and continue through various philanthropic efforts.
The Amar Kartar Foundation was founded to support existing non-profit organizations, especially those who uphold Sikh traditions and values, to:
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Provide food, clothing, temporary shelter and health care to assist the poor, homeless, and abused women;
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Provide scholarships to needy and deserving individuals, including Sikhs; and
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Support medical clinics and nursing homes that serve the poor