Norma Bhaskar

Obituary Norma Elizabeth Zeigle Bhaskar died peacefully with her family at her side on November 16, 2018 at the age of 97. She lived a wonderful life as a mother, wife, nurse, artist and grandmother, all of which she did with passion, dedication and individualism. Norma was born and raised in the small friendly town of Warren, Illinois to the late Lloyd and May Zeigle. She graduated from Saint Mary’s School of Nursing in Madison, WI in 1942. After graduation, she began her brief nursing career, which was soon interrupted by the pursuit of travel and the study of art. She traveled and worked her way through the western United States, from Texas to California for over a year. She then backpacked post-war Europe for four months with a good friend before returning to Chicago to study and work. She studied Art at prestigious schools such as The Chicago Art Institute and Chouinard Art Institute. In 1948, she met her future husband, Surindar (Sindi) Bhaskar, at a University of Chicago International House social. They were the best dancers at the party and immediately connected. After two years of courtship, they were married on his birthday, which he often said was his greatest birthday gift. They honeymooned in New Orleans, after which began their 66-year journey together, creating a home, raising a family, traveling the world, and loving life. Their journey included living in Chicago, San Antonio, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and finally settling in Monterey. In the 1960’s, Norma continued to pursue her career as an artist. She studied at The Corcoran School of Art and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from American University in Washington, D.C. Norma refined her distinctive style as an abstract expressionist with her confident use of bold and vibrant colors filling her paintings with a vibrant energy. After numerous gallery exhibitions in Maryland, Virginia and California, Norma was juried into membership in 1998 at the Carmel Art Association where her Mid-Century Modernist style flourished for two decades. Norma lived in Monterey for over 40 years, enjoying morning or afternoon walks to Jack’s Peak with her husband, reading multiple newspapers everyday front to back, having lunch with friends, painting in her art studio and spending time with her grandchildren. She loved her family and friends, her art career and life on the Monterey Peninsula. Norma Bhaskar is preceded by her husband, Major General Surindar (Sindi) Bhaskar and her older brother, Gordon Zeigle. She is survived by her brother, William Zeigle and her sister Mary Zeigle Chapman; her 3 sons, William Bhaskar, Philip Bhaskar and Thomas Bhaskar; daughter-in-law Brenda Bhaskar; and her beloved grandchildren, Elizabeth, Brian and Emma Bhaskar. Norma Z. Bhaskar will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with her husband. Memorial contributions may be made to the Santa Catalina Fund, c/o Santa Catalina Lower School, 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey, CA 93940 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Norma Bhaskar, please visit our floral store.