Obituary of Nestor Karapanagiotis-Bagchi
Nestor Karapanagiotis-Bagchi was the most beautiful, loving, gentle little soul that anyone could ever have the privilege to love. Chill, stoic, stubborn, even-tempered and full of love to the core, Nestor was a puggle who always wanted to be around his family. Wherever we went, there he was, too—with little regard for whether we could all fit in the spaces. Never a “pet,” Nestor was a roommate, a member of the crew, a key member of the household, a central figure in our family. Nestor had his own style and he marched to the beat of the drum to which he wanted to march. He always seemed like an old soul: kind and gentle, with a calm wisdom. He somehow always managed to give off the vibe that he knew what was most important in life, and that he wanted you to know it, too. He was his own man: he did what he felt like doing, and didn’t do otherwise. He was always willing to “get after it.” Most of all, he was love: he was always eager to give love and always eager to receive it. He was the very best of everything.
There were many things that Nestor liked: amongst them, cuddles, watching football, listening to “classical music for pets” on the Alexa app, going for long walks when he was young, going for stroller rides when he was old, going on “trips” in the car, getting asked if he wanted to go on a trip, napping with his crew, ice, getting many kisses, walking around his neighborhood Deerhurst where he was known as “Pop Pop Nestor,” and “the Mayor,” sitting with and laying near his crew, going to Sweet Frog, food, toys (but only the plush ones that squeak), staring at his loved ones with his beautiful, big soulful eyes, listening to “CNN live” and “classical Christmas music” on the Alexa app, sun puddles (he LOVED sun puddles and he knew exactly where to find them and how to position himself right in the middle of them), going to Starbucks, walking around Mill Creek and the RAC, walking around Brandywine Park, running for his racoon toy, sitting by the fire pit on the porch, getting treats, getting asked if he wanted a treat, sitting in the back yard by the fire, sitting at the feet of those he loves, sitting upstairs while his crew worked, being asked “what’s going on?!,” eating, rolling in the grass, getting belly rubs, getting sung to, getting paw cream, and above all, giving and receiving love.
Nestor was a dog about whom many songs were written (“Nestor’s song” and “Nestor the bear is a pookie bear”) and for whom many songs were sung (“birds singin' in the sycamore tree”). Nestor also had a limitless number of nicknames, including but not limited to: Nestor Bear, Pookie Bear, Neste, Nesta, Mista Nesta, Baba Tairone, Delecto, Pig Das, Pig Das Pig, Dukes, Dukie, Brown, Lamb, Lambchop, Nestoroni, Nestoroni Macaroni, Doo Doo, Heffe, Macaroni, Macaroni Bear, Meri Jaan, Richard F.,Tunde, Tunde Lal, Babadook, A Brand New Brother, Beautiful Boy, Pig, Gentle Pig, and Hill.
Although he was born in Ellettsville, Indiana and adopted in Bloomington, Indiana, in his nearly sixteen years of life (16-18? we’ll never know for sure), Nestor lived in Indiana, Georgia, and Delaware and also spent time in New Jersey and Florida. He has fans and family all over the world: including the United States, Greece, and India.
Nestor will remain in our hearts and as a presence in our life forever. We will always remember what he would want for us and how he would want us to see ourselves. Getting the chance to live with him was one of the greatest gifts of our life. Nestor, we will try to live the rest of our lives by the most important value that you seemed to want to share with us: unconditional love for anyone and everyone whose path crossed with yours.
