Dr. Shaswati Nina Saha-Gupta of Missouri City, Texas passed away on April 5, 2019 at the age of 62.
Nina was born in West Bengal, India to the late Archana and Sachin Saha. Her sisters are Debjani Saha and Indrani Goswami, who reside in India. After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees in India, Nina came to the U.S. to pursue her education at Syracuse University, where she received a second Master’s Degree and Ph.D.
Nina was a tenured professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction within the College of Education at Texas Southern University for over 20 years. She was a passionate advocate for children with disabilities, through her volunteerism, conference presentations, publications, and consulting with school districts across Texas. She also served as a Board Member of Hope For Three, a non-profit and autism advocacy group.
Nina demonstrated a never-ending compassion for those around her. She was a loving mother and a caring wife who always put her family first. She is survived by her husband Rajnish, son Rahul, step-children Shailey and Neel and family throughout the U.S., Canada, U.K. and India.
Please join us in celebrating her life at Winford Funeral Home Southwest (8514 Tybor Drive, Houston, TX 77074) on Wednesday, April 10th, 2019 at 3:00 PM.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hope For Three, a non-profit focused on autism advocacy.
Kim Thu Florist is on site at Winford Funeral Home Southwest and can be contacted at 281-788-8229.
My heartfelt condolences to the family.
I first met Nina in 1985 in Calcutta,and recall the dedication with which she approached each of her assignments in REACH.
I also remember her telling me that she always wanted to live in a house with 7 dogs in it.
I am certain that those 7 dogs are still with her,wherever she may be.
See you on the other side,Nina!
Mark 12:31 The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Love thy neighbor.
God Bless :-)
Dr. Saha took pride in all that she did, and leaves a beautiful legacy behind. My thoughts and prayers to her husband, children, and extended family.
Lila
People have sisters but how many are blessed with soul sisters? Someone who would not only be a good listener, share with you your joys and sorrows but be able to hear the outpourings of your soul. Such was our relationship that we could almost read each other’s thoughts and feel what the other person was going through, sometimes even without having uttered a single word. Sundays was the highlight of my week when I got up with a feeling of lightness in my heart because that was the day when we spent an hour or so exchanging all that had been going on in our lives the past week - from news that was important to the most mundane of things.
We became really close once I passed out of school. She was not just my sister but my best friend. Growing up with her was so much fun, because not only did we have our little adventures of doing things that all young girls do, but we always had each other’s back. She could always very skillfully manage to get her way around our mother for permission to go out, and once the permission was granted , neither the heat of Nagpur’s summers nor the rains could stop us.
She always had this desire to excel in whatever she was given to do whether it was academics or the dance classes she attended in her childhood. The image of her sitting and crying because she had come fourth in class instead of her usual second or third rank is still fresh in my mind. I always thought she had it easy because she has been blessed with a high IQ, but it was only when she was preparing for her post-graduation exams did I notice that a lot of hard work also went along with it.
The bond that we had, just strengthened over the years, especially once I got married and left the house and later when she went off on a scholarship to the US for higher studies. She made it a point to visit India every single year without fail, laden with gifts for all of us. It must have been difficult financially when she was a student managing on her scholarship money and the odd jobs she did, but nothing could stop her from wanting to spend time with us, at least once a year. The day Ritika my daughter was born she was so happy. She wanted to celebrate because I had a daughter. She always considered Ritika to be more her daughter than her niece and indulged her in every possible way. I don’t remember buying many clothes for my daughter in her childhood because she was gifted with so many pretty dresses by her Chotomashi (Aunt). I remember our excitement on getting news of her marriage and a few years later waiting to see Rahul, her son, on his first trip to India. Those were such happy days. One just had to see her enthusiasm and excitement while planning my daughter’s wedding. She felt equally responsible to make sure everything was planned days ahead to give her the perfect wedding and insisted on buying most of the stuff for her trousseau and getting them packed and decorated. I remember how much she cried when I spoke to her on her own marriage day in the US because she was missing us so much. Thank God for our cousin Bubundi, and brother-in-law Pinky, who were always there for her, and whom she loved dearly. They were the only family she had there, who not only got her married but were always there for her. Their house was her refuge. I remember my first trip to the US. It was one of the best trips of my life. I am so grateful to have Bubundi and Pinky in my life, and of course my dear sister who made it all possible.
We went through our difficult periods when our mother was sick, and later diagnosed with cancer, undergoing 7-8 surgeries. All the travelling back and forth to be by her side, the hospital stays drained us out physically and emotionally but since we were always together in our struggles to help her to heal and recover, the trauma was less than it would have been if we had to do it alone.
Our bond just strengthened over the years…we shared so much, more than what I have done with anyone else in my life. Pouring out your heart and baring your soul is something very few people can do, but such was our relationship that we could do it with each other.
We all know that we have to leave this world one day but nothing prepares you for the sudden death of someone who you hold very close to your heart, who made life so much better and joyful by just being around. How do you say good bye to someone like that, someone who gave all she could to make your life a little better, a little happier. I remember when I first got to hear of her death, my first words to my husband were, ‘No, how could she go? She was so much a part of me’.
Now I just have memories that I have to live with…. Memories of a woman who was caring, dutiful, courageous, principled, and dignified. Goodbye my dear sister and friend, you will always stay alive in my heart.
It's hard to put so many years of memories into a paragraph or two. Nina was such a good friend. Always there for me, always concerned, always wise and gracious. She worked hard and was so passionate about things that were important to her. She loved her family so much and was so proud of Rahu. I’m so grateful for her friendship and love all of these years. Nina will always remain in my heart.
Nina is the little sister I never had till she lit up my life at our wedding back in 1972 when she was just a high school kid. From “just a high school kid” she became one of the very few people I could relate to on the same wavelength - both intellectually and emotionally. And I feel honored that she placed so much trust in my wife Sreemati & me and showered us with such boundless love.
She was distinctively different - profoundly thoughtful and sensitive. She had a unique perspective and an extra-dimensional view of things invisible to the ordinary eye. ... As exemplified by the choice of her New Year greeting to us:
“And now we welcome the New Year
Full of things that have never been.”
... Rainer Maria Nike
Nina was truly exceptional in every way, not just academically or professionally. Blessed with an outstanding intellect & dedication to high principles, she was passionately committed to the causes that inspired her.... such as special education & autism which were were very close to her heart.
She was gentle, compassionate, sweet and loving (except when I made her mad by messing up her kitchen)! She will continue to inspire us always as a very special and integral part of our lives. And our love remains as always with Rahul, Rajneesh, Shailey, Evan, Neel, Kristin and the rest of her family. God grant them the strength to weather this irreparable loss. May she Rest In Peace with the angels in God’s loving care.
Bubundi and I try to seek solace in the words of Henry Scott-Holland, a priest at St. Paul's Cathedral of London (1847 - 1918):
“Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still....”
When I was 11 years old, she was my geography, English grammar and math teacher back in Calcutta, India and I will never forget those days, truth be told some of those days were very tough because she is tough :) she always pushed for excellence and even the most average student such as myself had no choice but to excel under her tutelage. She taught me hard work and persistency translated into excellent results and achieving that was a great feeling. Certainly a massive influencer in my life. Last year she visited me and my family in our home in IL, we loved having her and Rahul around, she enjoyed my cooking and chit chats, especially my jokes, she loved to relax at our home, she used to tell me she felt at peace, and this year she was planning to come in May......God took her too soon, I will never know why, but who am I to challenge God’s will therefore I simply ask the angels to welcome her and to take care of her the way she took care of everyone who walked into her life.
I adored YOU and I am having a very hard time processing that you won’t call, write, text or visit me anymore.
Nintumashi You will always be in my heart because in my heart you will always live on.
RIP (rest in peace)
Babua
Love Rume
With love
Special Education
Candice Omotosho
I think it would be an understatement to say she expected excellence from me, along with her expectations was the confidence that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to.
Dr. Saha you were so much more than words can express.
May the good Lord welcome you into his heavenly body.
Love always,
Danielle
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My heartfelt condolences to the family.
I first met Nina in 1985 in Calcutta,and recall the dedication with which she approached each of her assignments in REACH.
I also remember her telling me that she always wanted to live in a house with 7 dogs in it.
I am certain that those 7 dogs are still with her,wherever she may be.
See you on the other side,Nina!
Mark 12:31 The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Love thy neighbor.
God Bless :-)
Dr. Saha took pride in all that she did, and leaves a beautiful legacy behind. My thoughts and prayers to her husband, children, and extended family.

My Dearest Academic Advisor and Professor
I am still trying to process this as I am sure everyone is. To Dr. Saha's family and friends, may your peace surpass all understanding. I will forever be grateful to you for allowing her love for life and education to be shared with us. Thank you Dr. Saha for making us strive for greatness. Your presence will forever be missed.