Phone: 215-543-9339 (24-hour Availability)

Naren S. Gupte

March 7th 1968 – November 25th 2019

Naren Sharad Gupte, age 51, passed away peacefully early Monday morning, November 25, 2019, after living with lymphoma for 22 years. Naren always found ways to enjoy life, family, adventures, art, food, travel, friendships, and love, no matter the limits that illness, treatments, or pain may have imposed over the years. His bright and loving spirit created smiles wherever he went. He had the ability to see the good in the world, and his wonderful and quick-witted sense of humor always had the folks around him laughing along.

He is survived by his beloved wife, the artist Rebecca Gilbert; his loving mother Shaila Gupte and stepfather Steve Benka; and his father Sharad Gupte, and stepmother Smita Gupte.

Naren was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India and moved to the United States when he was two and a half years old. As a youngster — first in East Lansing, Michigan; then in Cincinnati, Ohio; and on through college in Chapel Hill, North Carolina — he enjoyed playing sports, especially tennis and basketball, and going to movies. A bit of a rebellious streak served him well on the debate squad. His academic achievements in middle and high school earned him a place in the prestigious Governor’s School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Naren graduated from Chapel Hill High School in North Carolina, earned his English degree at UNC in Chapel Hill, and was a lifelong Tar Heel basketball fan. He was able to recount NCAA tournament games from memory, seasoned with colorful language to describe opponents, especially the Duke Blue Devils. The day after Naren passed, #1 Duke lost at home, at the buzzer in overtime, to 263rd-ranked Stephen F. Austin in the largest NCAA upset of the past 15 years; Naren would have loved it.

After college, Naren went into in the rare-book trade at Chapel Hill Rare Books and then moved to Philadelphia. There he had a career with Bauman Rare Books, both in Philadelphia and Manhattan. He also operated as an independent dealer in the Philadelphia area. He was an expert buyer, cataloguer, and salesperson in the field for years. Naren was also a talented writer, editor, artist, and home chef. He never stopped seeking ways to create.

About ten years ago, as a result of complications from his lymphoma, Naren’s heart stopped on the operating table. Shortly after his miraculous recovery, he and Rebecca found each other, and they have since shared a true and abiding love, and many adventures great and small.

His accumulating health challenges came to limit his ability to be as social and active as he would have liked with his and Rebecca’s many friends. But privately he found adventure, community, and reprieve through online gaming. That participation in group gaming adventures with others from around the world also provided him with a creative outlet for his writing.

From his childhood on, Naren made and maintained friendships wherever he went and in every part of his life. He was a man of charisma and thrift-store style, a man unafraid to be himself. A man of taste and strong opinions, he loved good food and good drink, and the joy of sharing with good company. The philosophy he lived by was guided by peace, fairness, and love. He was a man with an open mind, a sense of adventure, and a generous spirit. He was an unforgettable force in the lives of so many. He is loved and will be deeply missed.

For information about a mid-December gathering to pay tribute to Naren and celebrate his life, please contact either Rebecca Gilbert or Shaila Gupte.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Naren’s memory can be made to Able Gamers Charity, https://ablegamers.org/ .

Phone: 215-543-9339