TRAVERSE CITY - Jeanne Sumitra Heinert, known by many as Sumitra, passed away peacefully at her home and surrounded by family on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

Sumitra was born on December 30, 1929, in Santiniketan, India, the daughter of Fernand François Aimé Benoît (a native of Geneva, Switzerland) and Santisudha Chatterji Benoît (a native of India). An only child, Sumitra spent a happy childhood in India speaking Hindi and Bengali at home and French and English at school. Through her lovely speaking voice and vocabulary, most would have never known that English was not her native tongue.

Sumitra attended college at the Isabella Thoburn College in Lucknow, India, and then earned her master’s degree in Geography from the University of Allehabad, India. Sumitra was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship which brought her life to the United States where she first settled in Worchester Massachusetts to commence studies for her doctorate in Geography at Clark University. Her work at Clark greatly influenced Sumitra’s lifelong focus on Cultural Geography which is study of the human and environment relationship.

In 1961, Sumitra wed Hans Dietrich Heinert, a native of Leipzig, Germany. The family first settled in Chicago, moving in 1966 to Midland Michigan where they raised their family. She began a rewarding professorship of Physical & Cultural Geography at Delta College, University Center, MI. An esteemed and gifted teacher, Delta College brought many lifelong friendships and the opportunity to travel the world with colleagues and students as part of her work.

Sumitra also served her community through her work with Civitan, People to People and UNICEF, organizations that help encourage international goodwill through education, cultural understanding, and philanthropy. Sumitra herself became a Citizen of the USA in 1975 and embraced the freedom of choice that many take for granted.

In retirement, Sumitra moved to Suttons Bay MI where she was able to spend her time in the beauty of nature and exploring her creative and inquisitive mind. She participated enthusiastically in gardening, Ikebana, and her favorite pastime, reading. Sumitra spent part of her retirement living in California near her daughter; she instantly became a well appreciated friend and “Didima” to the neighborhood. She returned home to Traverse City for the final years of her life where she continued to meet and cherish new friends and to be near her youngest son and his family.

Sumitra is survived by her children, Hans Jurgen (Edita) Heinert and their family Hans Christopher Heinert, Ava Vallor, Anna Ryland and George Mathews; Maya Renee (Reto Schaerli) Heinert and their children Nicolas and Elise Schaerli, and Klaus Dietrich (LuAnn) Heinert and their son Gavin Meyer, as well as grand and great-grandchildren.

Sumitra was preceded in death by her husband, Dietrich, and her grandson, Ryan Meyer.

A family celebration of Sumitra’s life will be held in Suttons Bay Michigan. Burial will take place at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Suttons Bay. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, Sumitra’s philosophy that “Every act of kindness, courage and compassion has a ripple effect” be practiced by all those who remember, loved, or knew her. Please share condolences and memories with Sumitra’s family at www.martinson. info.

Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.