Samir Bhala ’12 obituary published on Legacy
Bhala majored in political science at Carleton.
The obituary of Samir Bhala ’12 was published on Legacy.
Samir Soni Bhala, aged 36, passed peacefully and joyously to his next adventure, October 5, 2025, in his beloved Chicago, overlooking blue skies and a bluer Lake Michigan on a perfect fall day. He ended his two-year battle against leukemia, sarcoma, and brain tumors with characteristic optimism; his last words were, “It’s a beautiful day.”
At Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, Samir had the time of his life. He DJ’d college-wide parties, hosted a radio show (classic rock and political debate), tutored math, and participated in student government. He graduated in 2012, magna cum laude, with a political science degree and concentration in statistics. At Carleton, Samir’s political campaign volunteer work began. He was never more in his element than making cold calls for candidates he believed in — at the local, state, and national level — and he devoted untold hours to the fight for a more just America.
During his working years, Samir became Carleton College’s most dedicated booster as President of the Carleton Chicago Club. Dressed in a full suit or Carleton swag, he never stopped closing.