PLATTSBURGH-Dr. Soham Shankerbhai Patel, 72, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., passed away on Friday, Nov. 14, at University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., with his loving family by his side. He was born in Mehsana, Gujarat, India, on Feb. 4, 1942, the eldest son of Shankerbhai Prabhudas and Kusumben (née Parekh) Patel. He married Dr. Sudha (Sanghvi) Patel in Feb. 1973 at North End House in London, England. Dr. Patel graduated from High School in 1956 in Valsad, Gujarat, at the age of 14, and attended Elphinston College in Mumbai. He obtained his MBBS in Medicine and Surgery from University of Baroda in 1964. While in medical college, he was a gold medalist in internal medicine, surgery, and obstetrics & gynecology. Dr. Patel was awarded a diploma as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh in July 1969 and a certification in Neurosurgery in 1972 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Dr. Patel was a Fellow in Neurosurgery at Queens General Hospital & Long Island Jewish Hospital. From March 1975 until January 1999, he practiced Neurosurgery at CVPH Medical Center and numerous other North Country hospitals, as well as in private practice. Dr. Patel "retired" in 1999, though his retirement was decidedly more active than the typical career years are for many. He was a long-time member (since 1974) of the New York State Medical Society, in various locations. From 1984-1988, he was president of the Clinton County Medical Society, and represented the county at The Annual Meeting of the Medical Society of the State of New York House of Delegates for several years. Through the CCMS, he created the Nursing Scholarship Endowment Fund in cooperation with Clinton Community College. From 2004-2014 he was the Treasurer of the CCMS, and was ultimately awarded lifetime membership. Dr. Patel also created and incorporated the Northern New York Physicians' Individual Practice Association in 1987, the Northern New York Medical Alliance Management in 1998, and the Northern New York Medical Foundation in 2009. The NNYMF established a scholarship to recruit primary care physicians to the North Country. Additionally, Dr. Patel was involved in the Northern Area Health Education Center from the time of its inception in 2000 and served in various capacities, including Chairman, Vice-Chairman and board member. From 1999-2005, he served on the board of Hospice of the North Country. He also served on the Board of Community Provider Inc. of CVPH from 2007 on. Most recently, he was an integral part of the Fletcher Allen Partnership as a board member and a trustee. Dr. Patel was also a member of The College Council of SUNY at Plattsburgh from July 1997-July 2009, and he, along with his wife, also established numerous scholarships at the educational institution in the names of their parents. He became a Rotarian in 1999 as part of the Noon Rotary Club, and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the Board of Literacy Volunteers from 2000-2006. Dr. Patel was an avid golfer who had three holes-in-one. He was known for his humor, his smile, his enormous heart, and his devotion to education and his community. His greatest devotion was to his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Sudha S. Patel, of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; his children, Shena Patel of New York, N.Y., Ankan Patel and his wife Jeanna of New York, N.Y.; his brother, Parimal Patel and his wife Ruth of Jersey City, N.J. and Daytona Beach Shores, Fla.; his brother, Anami Patel and his wife Hansa, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and dear friends and colleagues. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Shankerbhai Patel (1973) and Kusumben Patel (1999). In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed at The Northern New York Medical Foundation Scholarship: Northern New York Medical Foundation, Inc., 210 Cornelia Street, Suite 105, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, 518-563-3700 http://www.nnymf.org/ The family would like to thank the staffs at the CVPH Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit, and at University of Vermont Medical Center Emergency Room and Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit. Arrangements were entrusted to R. W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court Street, Plattsburgh, NY.