Rajinder Kumar Taneja

Rajinder Kumar Taneja, 91 of McLean, Virginia passed away peacefully on 14 May 2024.
Rajinder (Raj) led a rich and fascinating life marked by resilience, determination, and an
unwavering devotion to his family. Born on 27 April 1933 in Karachi, he experienced the
tumultuous Partition of India firsthand when his family was forced to flee their home to New
Delhi as refugees at age 14. Though faced with such upheaval at a young age, Rajinder
persevered, eventually finding his way to Kabul, Afghanistan to work for the US Agency for
International Development (USAID)

It was in Kabul that Rajinder’s life truly blossomed. At 30, he met the love of his life, the elegant
and vivacious Namita Kalra. As Namita described it, it was love at first sight, and within a year
they were married in January 1964. It was a powerful and complimentary match as Rajinder
was always the introvert and Namita was quite the extrovert. Together they built a warm and
joyful home, welcoming two sons, Anil and Sunil. Kabul offered adventures exploring the local
culture as well as watching beloved Western films and forming tight bonds with the Indian
expatriate community.

As it is with many that come to the US, they were enamored with the US and all its promises; It
was the time of the space race, Tang, and the glamour of the 1960’s. The family's determination
for greater opportunity eventually led them, along with many of the families that they bonded
with In Kabul, to New York City in 1969. With his trademark quiet strength, Rajinder supported
his family while putting himself through college, to pursue a business degree from Baruch
College. He worked as a logistics transportation manager for an importer and wholesaler of
Christmas decorations until his retirement in the late 1990’s. He then focused on his true
passion, his family, and spent his time traveling and visiting his family in India, US, and Canada.
He finally settled in Virginia after his travels.

To his loved ones, Rajinder was a steady, caring presence imbued with an understated wit and
gentle humor that could sneak up on you. His dry one-liners and jokes often took a beat to sink
in, leaving smiles on everyone’s faces. He faced life;s challenges with a smile and a zen-like
calm. In his final days, Rajinder remained at peace, likely with one last joke lingering unspoken.

Rajinder’s resilience, humility, and most of all his devotion to family will be dearly missed by his
sons, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family. His legacy lives on in the innumerable lives
he touched with his care, kindness, and quiet wisdom. As his loved ones gather to
commemorate this remarkable life, they will surely find themselves awaiting one last perfectly
timed quip from their deeply cherished patriarch.

His family is thankful to the caregivers that helped to keep him comfortable in his final days. We
will miss his dry humor, caring persona, and gentle soul.

His family is thankful to the caregivers that helped to keep him comfortable in his final days. We
will miss his dry humor, caring persona, and gentle soul.
Rajinder was the son of the late Madan Gopal and Santosh (Nangia) Taneja. He was preceded
in death by his beloved wife, Namita (Kalra) Taneja; his brothers Vinod Taneja and Chander
Taneja, and sister Prabha (Taneja) Gambhir. He is survived by his son Anil Taneja and
daughter-in-law Dawn (Conley) Taneja and their children, Reggie, Jazmine, Berkeley, and
Madison; son Sunil Taneja and daughter-in-law Rouma (Kumar) Taneja and their children, Naya,
and Shaan. He is also survived by his siblings and spouses Virrender and Madhu Taneja; Sashi
(Taneja) Chugh; Nand and Neetu Taneja; Shyam and Rajni (Taneja) Gureja and many nieces
and nephews. He is also survived by the many friends he emigrated to the US with and their
children.

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