Dr. Ashok G. Kumar 1938-2024

He was born on Oct. 24, 1938, in Kerala, India, the son of the late Damodaran Gopinath and Rema Bai Gopinath.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ruthie Hermiz Kumar; his loving children, Peter Kumar (Renee), Kiesha Ferrari (Larry), Michelle Perez (Ami) and Asha Gregory (Adam); dearest grandchildren, Adam Kumar (Taylor), Samuel Kumar (Tricia), Benjamin Kumar, Brendan Malloy, Leat Perez, Solomon Kumar Perez and Noah Kumar Perez; and great-granddaughter, Chloe Kumar; and brothers, Gopinath Radhakrishnan and Mohan Gopinath.

His sister, Ambika Gopinath, preceded him in death.

Dr. Kumar graduated from Trivandrum Medical College, Kerala University, India in 1962. Upon graduation he embarked on his lifelong dream of moving to the United States of America earning an internship at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City, New York. It was there that he met the love of his life, Ruthie, and they were happily married on Aug. 5, 1964, a marriage that has lasted for almost 60 years. From 1964 to 1965, he was a first-year medical resident in Internal Medicine at North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, Long Island, New York. In 1965, they moved to Warren where they would live for the next 57 years. Dr. Kumar served as a second-year resident at Trumbull Memorial Hospital from 1965 to 1966 and became chief resident from 1966 to 1967. He then served as the house physician at Hillside Hospital, also in Warren, from 1967 to 1969. Dr. Kumar was able to earn his U.S. citizenship upon being drafted to the U.S. Army. He was proud and honored to serve the country that he loved so much as a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, from 1969 to 1970. He earned an Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star Medal, for outstanding meritorious service in connection with military operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. His service continued from 1970 to 1971, at Fort Ord Station Hospital in Monterey, California. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Warren, where he was the assistant medical director at Hillside Hospital, from 1971 to 1976. He then achieved his next goal of opening a private practice in internal medicine in Howland and became a staff member of Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren. For the next 46 years, he served his patients with devoted care, saving countless lives with his outstanding diagnostic skills and empathetic bedside manner.

In January 2022, Dr. Kumar retired from practicing medicine at the age of 84 and moved with Ruthie to Solon to live with their daughter Michelle and her family. Leaving his practice was the most difficult decision in his life because he truly loved his work. He had an unrivaled intellect and passion for medicine and caring for others. During retirement, he continued to study medicine on a daily basis for hours at a time. He had a love for learning that never subsided as well as his love of tennis, rock music and the Boston Celtics. But most of all, he loved spending time with his greatest legacy, the family he and Ruthie built together. He left them with a lifetime of amazing memories that they will cherish forever.

Staying true to his dedication to learning and medicine, Dr. Kumar donated his body to be used for medical research. Family and friends may visit and pay tribute to Dr. Kumar’s family during memorial calling hours, from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by a funeral service, with military honors to begin at 5 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2024, at the Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel of Warren, 1884 North Road NE.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in memory of Dr. Ashok G. Kumar to the Lerner School of Medicine. Checks may be mailed to Cleveland Clinic Philanthropy, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193, or online at give.ccf.org.

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