Bhaskara Naidu Dhoma

Bhaskara Naidu Dhoma
(1947 – 2024)

Bhaskara Naidu Dhoma, aged 77, passed away on April 14, 2024, surrounded by friends and family near his home in Keller, Texas. Bhaskara was born on February 5, 1947, in Andhra Pradesh, India, to Srinivasalu Naidu Dhoma and Amrutham Dhoma. After graduating from Sri Venkateswara Medical College in Tirupati, India, he married his life partner Vara Lakshmi Dhoma and they started their more than 50-year journey together in Chittoor, India, where Bhaskara practiced medicine for two years. While in Chittoor, he was able to inspire others and spent his time helping those less fortunate. Bhaskara then briefly moved to Boston to begin his medical training and career in the United States and was soon joined by Lakshmi in New York City where he was blessed with the birth of his first daughter, Silpa. After completing training in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Bhaskara and Lakshmi moved to Wisconsin where he embarked on his lifelong career in the Veterans Administration (VA) health care system.

Never a fan of the “cold and harsh” winter typical of Wisconsin, Bhaskara and Lakshmi next made the move to Waco, Texas. In Texas, Bhaskara was reunited with his lifelong best friend and brother-in-law, Krish (“Babu”) and his wife Rani. Bhaskara and Lakshmi bought their first home and celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Swathi. Having settled into his new home and welcoming community in Waco, Bhaskara built lifelong friendships with neighbors and colleagues for almost three decades. Despite a demanding job, Bhaskara was always at home for dinner with his family and could be found at his children’s tennis tournaments, piano recitals, and other activities. After watching his daughters and nieces graduate from high school, college, and graduate schools, Bhaskara retired from the Central Texas VA Hospital in Waco in 2012 and then started a new chapter with Lakshmi, family, and friends in Keller, Texas. He retired as soon as he could to spend some of the best years of his life with his beloved Lakshmi. In retirement, Bhaskara continued to expand his family and enjoyed his new roles as a father-in-law and grandfather to Saanvi and Shaan. Throughout his life, he took pleasure in watching all sports (including tennis, basketball, baseball, golf, and football) and was thrilled when the Texas Rangers won the World Series in 2023. Anyone who knew Bhaskara knew that he was a lover of Telugu movies and was the original binge watcher before the era of Netflix and online movie streaming.

As a proud Indian American, Bhaskara relished his opportunities of civic engagement. One could find him early voting, blasting CNN or MSNBC on full volume, and having spirited discussions about current events as well as local and global policy. His curiosity and courage to pursue new opportunities took him from Pundigatoor, a small village in India, to halfway around the world where he built a life full of love, laughter, and joy. Although far away, his family in Pundigatoor was always in his heart. Bhaskara was a one-of-a-kind human who could make almost anyone smile—he was at all times caring, genuine, and completely lovable. He will be dearly missed, but his life and legacy will always be celebrated.