Mary Jane Gupta
Mary Jane Gupta (Lane) peacefully passed away in her sleep on December 17, 2020 at the age of 96. Mary Jane was born in Lancaster, PA on August 14, 1924. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Dr. Narayan C. Gupta, and her sister, Skip Noll, of Florida. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife and grandmother. She is survived by daughter, Jenny (Steve Trampe) and her grandchildren, Frank, Evelyn and David.
Mary grew up during the depression. After prohibition, her parents, Red and Jane, opened a tavern, Lane’s Café, where they served nickel beers and clams on the half shell. She loved to tell stories from that period. Times were tough and her parents allowed distant cousins and friends to stay with the family during these years. However, they still found ways to have fun. Her beloved father would take her hunting, fishing and swimming in the Susquehanna river and Chesapeake Bay. As a teen she was a pitcher for a professional women’s baseball league similar to the one depicted in the movie, A League of their Own.
In Lancaster, Mary worked as a secretary for the Vice-President of RCA, H.R. Seelen. One of their top projects involved color picture tubes that would lead to the color television. She also worked in Philadelphia for Curtis Publishing, home of The Saturday Evening Post, famous for their Norman Rockwell covers.
She met her husband, Narayan, who was a resident physician attending to her father at Lancaster General Hospital. She traveled with him to India to meet his family and be married. Narayan worked at the Davis Institute of Neuropsychiatry in Ranchi, India. During this time, Mary taught English to the local village children and explored India by train visiting many religious sites and making new friends throughout. A striking tall, blonde lady was quite the novelty in many small villages where they hadn’t seen or spoke with a western woman. They lived there for two years before moving back to St. Louis, Missouri. Narayan, practiced psychiatry at State Hospital and they lived onsite in the Doctor’s quarters for a few years. Eventually they settled in St. Louis Hills. Mary was an avid gardener, community volunteer and stock investor.
Mary lived with her daughter’s family in Webster Groves, Missouri in her senior years. She often would reminisce with her grandchildren about her loving parents, her wonderful neighbors from Devonshire Ave., and the time she flew on the trapeze at Circus Flora at the young age of 80. She enjoyed reading the Wall Street Journal, following Cardinals Baseball, and exercising and lifting weights at the Mid-County Y and The Exercise Coach up until the end.
Mary lived life with a sense of humor, adventure, kindness and most importantly Faith in God. Her greatest joys were her family, friends and chocolate. She will be missed dearly.
Mary’s family would like to thank the many St. Louis medical professionals over the years who contributed to her health and longevity with a special thanks to her wonderful nurse, Miss Jenny Bui.
Due to COVID-19, a Celebration of Mary’s life will be held in Summer 2021. If you are interested in attending, please email trampefamily@yahoo.com
What a wonderful story. A life lived to the full, through hard times and good. An honour to be related through marriage, and can appreciate her time in India, having spent a lot of time there myself. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. So sorry for your loss Jenny and family. Pauline and Montu. XXX
I didn’t know your mom was a baseball pitcher! That’s so cool! What an amazing life she had.
Baseball pitcher, too? Love her story and beautiful photo….so captures her sparkle and spirit!
Beautiful photo! Amazing life- your mom was one of a kind and will be dearly missed !
Much Love
Sarah Smith and family
Mary was such a ray of sunshine to work with. I trained her at The Exercise Coach and we always related on playing softball. I spent alot of time sitting and talking with her after her sessions because I loved hear what she had to say. Always dancing and so upbeat! Going to miss this woman! Very fortunate that our paths crossed and I got the chance to really know her.
I first met Mary very briefly in early Sixties when she had been to India along with her husband-to-be Dr. Narayan C Gupta, who was like my own uncle. In late sixties when I was studying in Canada, I happened to visit them in St. Louis for a few days. She was very happy and excited to have me at their place, and took great care of me like just like my own aunt in India would have. She had already briefed Jenny who was a small girl then, what a “cousin” was about. I was perhaps the first person she met from her father’s family in India. Uncle Narayan and Mary took me round some of the city’s places of interest, gave some lovely presents to take home, and of course, treated me with lots of good food, including Indian sweets that she had learned to prepare for her husband. She had long chats with me on various subjects and I was impressed with her varied experiences of life, and her charming personality, warmth and friendliness. I also realized that she was not the kind of person who would readily agree with everything or get along well with everyone. Two years later, I visited them again before returning to India. By then, she had started treating me like a member of her extended family. Thereafter, whenever I had the opportunity of going to USA on a business trip, I tried to make an extra effort to make a detour and visit Mary and family in St Louis. Meanwhile, uncle Narayan suffered a stroke and I saw how much spontaneous and loving care Mary took of him. After he passed away, Mary and Jenny came to India, I think in late Nineties, when we met again. Then a couple of times more in St Louis, once with my wife who instantly became fond of Mary. The last time was after she had just undergone a coronary bypass surgery and was staying with Steve and Jenny. Evelyn Mary was born by then. Mary was recuperating from the surgery but was still in the best of her spirits. I consider myself very fortunate to have come in touch with a very special person like Mary Jane Gupta, and shall continue to cherish my fond memories of the times spent with her. She truly left for her heavenly abode. My wife and I pray to God Almighty that her departed soul may rest in eternal peace.