TORONTO — The Canadian hotel industry is mourning the loss of Silver Hotel Group president Deepak Ruparell, who passed away Sunday at the age of 67.
Ruparell, who accepted Hotelier magazine’s Pinnacle Award for Company of the Year in December 2021, was renowned for his modesty, actively shunning the limelight and downplaying his success and accomplishments.
In an interview last year, Susie Grynol, president, Hotel Association of Canada, praised the leader for his work with the association during the pandemic. “Deepak was a champion. When our industry started to unravel, he stepped up. He’s been a tireless supporter of the association. He didn’t miss a meeting, and he put in the work at the ground level, to make calls to MPs and to deliver the message that needed to be delivered in order to move our advocacy objectives forward. This industry hit a point of massive crisis and there were a few people who really stepped up and provided leadership, and he was one of them.”
He also founded The Ruparell Foundation, which allows Silver Hotel Group to give back to the staff and community through initiatives such as university scholarships for employees’ children, professional-development courses, team-building initiatives and volunteering with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, and Meals on Wheels. At each leadership conference, there’s a focus on a particular charitable activity, such as providing lunch-bag meals for the homeless or building bikes for kids in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood through the Dixon Hall Music School.
“Very saddened to learn of the passing of a great man Deepak Ruparell,” posted Brampton mayor Patrick Brown on Twitter. “He was a mentor and a beloved friend to me for the last 15 years. Words don’t do justice to losing someone like him. He radiated kindness and generosity. This is a huge loss not just for his family but for Canada.”
Ruparell leaves behind his wife Avni. He was a beloved father (father-in-law) of Rajeev, Shivani, Aarti and Sonia (Alex) and grandfather to Priya and Simran. A private funeral service will be held in New York, with only close family in attendance. The family appreciates everyone’s support, prayers and words of comfort and asks for privacy at this time.
May Deepak Rest In Peace. It’s been many many years since I worked with Dee . We were both early in our careers as he was launching Hospitality Inns out of Calgary. I was providing consulting services with my firm Laventhol Krekstein Horwath and Horwath Accounting in the Management Advisory services office.
Dee was always ( and I mean always)with great passion , great wit and intellect and always smiling. I remember Dee from those 40 plus years ago like it was today. On a happier note the only difference from the file photo im looking at in this notice, was he had a full head of black
hair! I valued your friendship dee and will never forget you my friend.
To your family , my deep condolences for your great loss.
Your old friend Dee,
Lawrence Cooper
Sweet Street
Los Angeles California
My depest condolence for Mr, Dee.
I have met him twice, and talk to him few times.
RIP.
Subhash Nagpal