Mayank Kantilal Kothari

Dr. Mayank Kantilal Kothari, a gifted physician, passed away peacefully at age 66 on January 29, 2015. Dr. Kothari was born on August 4th, 1948 to Kantilal and Prabhavatiben Kothari in Palanpur, India. In 1971, he attended medical school in Baroda, India. Shortly after graduation, he married his wife Dr. Rita Kothari. In 1972, the couple moved to the United States. They spent several years in the Philadelphia area for Dr. Kotharis residency in internal medicine and fellowship in oncology. They then settled in Des Moines, Iowa, where he set up his own practice, specializing in oncology and, later, in gastroenterology. While managing his practice, he proudly served as a major in the Iowa Air National Guard. He also hosted a weekly medical radio show on KUCB and taught at Des Moines Universitys College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Kothari was passionate about lifehe was an avid reader of the classics, loved the study of vocabulary and languages, and was well-versed in politics and law. He welcomed intellectual debate on all of these topics. He loved technology, and he loved spending time target shooting, especially with his son. He was an enthusiastic athlete, especially enjoying skiing, cycling, racquetball, and tennis. Dr. Kothari also had a passion for motorcycles. Dr. Kothari is survived by his wife, Rita; his daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Matthew Barnes; his son and daughter-in-law, Kaushal and Meeta Kothari; and his two grandsons, Sarang and Vivek Kothari. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Nayan Kothari (New Brunswick, NJ), and his sister, Anilaben Mehta (Santa Cruz, India). Dr. Kothari was a beloved father and grandfather, and he will be remembered as a strong man who excelled at everything he put his mind to. He lived life to the fullest, with no regrets. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Taylor House Hospice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.caldwellparrish.com