In Memory of Our Beloved Employee Rinku Bej Karmakar (1989

In beloved memory of Rinku Bej Karmakar (1989 – 2022)

TribecaCare
24th Feb 2023

It is difficult to know where to begin when it comes to the obituary. You did not see yourself ever writing about it.

Rinku Bej Karmakar joined us in June 2018, a quiet girl, as a part of the Billing and Analytics team. She quickly became indispensable, working hard, helping her immediate team members without a question and the larger Tribeca network, making sure all her work is completed on time and with diligence. Over time, she took on more responsibilities and not once, in 5 years, did we have to monitor her work. If you gave her something to do, even if it was uncharted territory for her, she found a way to get it done. Kunal Banerjee, who heads our elder care services, pointed out correctly, “She was one girl that I have seen to never interfere in other people’s lives, never indulging in gossip, and she seemed to be focused on work 100% of the time.” This could not have been truer. She kept her head down and worked without question, without distraction.

And yet, her bond with her team and with the extended Tribeca family was strong and unquestionable. All those who have worked with her over the years have only good things to say about her. She was a very warm, fun-loving, professionally sound lady with a great sense of humor that showed every now and then. She also had a spark in her that made her difficult to ignore. She asked after people when they weren’t doing well, while always maintaining a sense of personal boundaries. Her sense of quiet confidence came from the fact that she knew exactly what she wanted from life.

She passed away, unfortunately, yes, but I believe people would agree with it being more of an unexpected shock than anything else. She was pregnant and had delivered a baby boy, which was the same day when she was shifted to the CCU for certain complications. The next few days were full of uncertainties, with us being on edge constantly, waiting for the next bit of news that may bring a glimmer of hope.

It would be remiss of me to not mention the amazing people that I work with in Tribeca and the camaraderie that they showed for Rinku and her family in the trying times. There were Tribeca employees at the hospital round the clock, working in shifts, coordinating with doctors, keeping us updated, supporting the harrowed family, and helping with her care, without being asked. In the evenings, post work hours, it would become a ritual to visit the hospital, for many people within the team, in the hope that this silent small gesture of support and combined prayers would somehow induce a miracle.

I will not lie, there were such moments, when we did think things were getting better before the next bit of news came in. The turbulent ride went on for 28 days, and she finally passed away on the 30^th of December 2022, in the early hours of the day. You don’t imagine this happening to a 33-year-old woman, who had an entire life to look forward to. But it did. Her loss is felt deeply by us – But it is nothing compared to the loss felt by her parents on losing their only child, her husband on losing his life partner, or her son who was less than a month old when he lost his mother. She has left a void, and whether it be in work, or in our personal lives, she will remain irreplaceable.

“While a lot of thoughts still pass through my head, with the feeling of so many things remaining unsaid, I can say with certainty two things as my closing lines. We miss her. And we will not ever forget her…”