The family of Pankaj “Peter” Deb announce his passing on Sunday, July 17, 2022. Pankaj was the beloved husband of Pratima “Maya” Deb since 1978 and a cherished brother of nine siblings. He is survived by his siblings Rajat Kanti Deb, Tuhin Kanti Deb, and Monoj Kanti Deb, and his sisters-in-law Annushka Deb and Ambika Deb. He was the adored uncle of many nieces and nephews, including Anrica Deb, Kritika Tara Deb, Sidart Deb, and Sanchoita Sagar, and enthusiastically followed their lives and the lives of their children. He sent them books, clothes, and gifts and loved to receive photos and updates on all of his family. He felt particularly protective and caring of Kritika, after she lost her father at a young age. Pankaj is also remembered fondly by countless other family members and friends.

Pankaj was born in 1937. As a child, after India’s partition, he left his ancestral home of Sylhet to be raised within the new boundaries of India. He completed his early education and Bachelor’s degree in Calcutta and his Master’s degree in Economics in Assam. He served as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Bengal, and under the Peace Corps, he came to the United States as a teacher. He moved to Canada as a young adult and lived there for most of his adult life, retiring from his long career as a dedicated chartered accountant in 2014. 

While a serious and hard-working accountant by profession, Pankaj will be remembered for his passion for poetry, philosophy, and sports, and as an avid tennis follower. He was known for his effusive and staunchly optimistic nature. Anywhere he traveled, Pankaj would always explore on foot and come back home with a host of new friends, a remarkable habit he kept up throughout his entire life. He had an incredibly open eagerness to meet new people. A well-read individual, he was always up to date on current events, enjoyed reading the newspaper, and loved to learn about new places, discoveries, and ideas. He loved taking long walks and used to jog in his earlier days, always saying hello or good morning to the people he met on the way and appreciating the surrounding nature.

His heart was full of gratitude; even in his final days, he made sure to say thank you to those who helped him.

His joy and kindness will be sorely missed. He was one of a kind.

We welcome you to join us for the visitation, held at St John's Dixie Cemetery & Crematorium, 737 Dundas Street East, Mississauga, Ontario on Saturday, July 23, 2022. Visitations will be from 10-11 AM, with the traditional ceremony beginning at 11 AM and the cremation to follow. The service will be livestreamed at the following link: https://stjohnsdixie.com/cemetery/live-memorial/