A loving husband, father, and grandfather who was a successful Electrical
Engineer and Entrepreneur. He was known for his kindness and jovial demeanor. Always believing that in whatever you are doing, you should be having fun.
Hari Swaroop Bhatnagar, 84, of Dayton, OH, died at home on April 29, 2024. He was born in New Delhi, India in 1940 to the Late Sawitri and Narian S. Bhatnagar, who loved him and instilled in him his strong commitment to education and loving nature of caring for his entire family. As a young child he was taught to work hard first and then play hard. His father use to have Har write these reports day after day after day. Well one day he wrote several in the same day so he would get ahead and be able to play more and sooner. He was always thinking ahead and knowing different ways to get to achieve the goals ahead of him. Needless to say, his father wasn’t too happy when he found out and pushed him even harder to do better. He went on to attend university in Banaras, India studying Electrical engineering. Har holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Banaras Hindu University. It was this education that would lead him down a path of several opportunities that would open many doors for him and his family. He began his hotel management career in 1983, balancing this new interest with a full-time engineering position at General Electric in Fort Wayne, Ind. Where he developed several patents in his name that are well known today. Prior to General Electric, he worked at Franklin Electric and McLain Engineering laboratory.
In 1989, Har established Middletown Hotel Management as his portfolio began to grow. After five successful years of additional hotel investments, Har retired from General Electric in 1994 to devote himself full time to his new business.
With nearly 30 years in the engineering industry before retiring from General Electric, Har has brought a unique perspective to hotel management and development. Har was not just a leader but a visionary, guiding MHM with unwavering dedication, passion, and integrity. Under Har's guidance, Middletown flourished, achieving significant milestones and making indelible marks in the Ohio Hospitality Community; growing Middletown from one Howard Johnson Hotel to the company we all see today.
Har's legacy extends far beyond professional accomplishments and are seen every day in the unwavering leadership of his daughter and Middletown's President, Neha Bhatnagar. Har is admired and respected by colleagues, employees, partners and the wider community for their exceptional leadership, compassion, and generosity. Har possessed a rare ability to inspire and empower others, leaving an enduring impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Har met the love of their life, Rani Bela Bhatnagar in 1970 through his Auntie. They were married and with only $200 in his pocket he travelled with her from India to the United States as the first immigrants in our family here to begin their future together. Their marriage was full of growth and building a life together without some of the luxuries you see today. They raised two children together that they adored with all their hearts and travelled the world together from Alaska to Africa to Australia. Har and Bela took risks and always was humbled by the opportunities that came his way in this country for him and his family. Together they shared the same views of providing for their family, working and building towards what would become an empire and legacy of Middletown Management that embodied all of their values and beliefs.
Har and Bela were thrilled and excited to start a family of their own, and their children meant the world to them. Arvin (Kimberly)Bhatnagar is their oldest caring son and their children Cameron (Zarin), Kayla, and Skye cared deeply for their grandfather. Neha (Shon Logue) Richter is their loving daughter and their children Samantha, Mary, Nikhil, and Rani loved their Nana through loving stories of world travels and the pride he had in all of their personalities and accomplishments.
Though he loved tennis, traveling, and his work, he loved being a Grandpa/Nana the most. Every time he was called upon by his grand children, given a hug, told he was loved, or just got the opportunity to watch their accomplishments he would smile with such a warm heart of proudness for each and every one of them. He often would compare his role of a grandparent similar to that of Santa Claus. He treasured his time with his grandkids and loved being in their lives to watch them grow into amazing young members of this society never failing to always stop and have fun with them, hug them, and love them.
Har always had two strong passions. His first was for tennis. He played tennis until he was 82 years old multiple times a week at Wildwood Racquet Club in Fort Wayne Indiana. Over the years he played in tournaments and won trophies and leagues. He always believed in keeping himself active and never missed an opportunity to attend the tennis tournament in Cincinnati. His second passion was for education. We’ll always imagine hearing them say “With an education you can do anything. It is important to get a good education. That is one thing no one can ever take away from you. They can take your clothes, money, things but never your education.” one more time. We couldn’t have asked for a better role model and inspiration in this world and will miss Har every day. His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him. And in all the lives he touched over the years by purely giving them the opportunity to do something great.
Har is survived by his immediate family and his sister Sushma (Cliffy) Saldana, brother Prem Swaroop (Ranjana) Bhatnagar, and sister Jyoti Anand Bhatnagar.
Visitation is May 3, 2024 from 1-3:30 pm at Tobias Funeral Home, 3970 Dayton Xenia Rd. Beavercreek, OH 45432. Following visitation will be a service with cremation to follow. On Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Puja will be at 10 am at the Hindu Temple of Dayton, 2615 Temple Ln. Beavercreek, OH 45431. Donations to the Miami Valley School https://www.mvschool.com/donate would be greatly appreciated in Memoriam of Har Bhatnagar for his strong belief in education.
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