A leading figure in the vitamin and health foods industries and a luminary in the world of CoQ10, Tishcon Corporation Chairman and Co-Founder Raj K. Chopra died at his home in Westbury, NY, on Feb. 13. He is survived by his three children, Geeta, Mona, and Raj Junior, and his grandchild, Avana Grace. He has joined his beloved Asha in the hereafter. He is predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Asha (Aug. 11, 2024).

In 1976, Chopra co-founded Tishcon, a manufacturer of nutritional supplements, vitamins, and nutraceuticals, for which he coined the tagline, “only nature has had more experience with vitamins.”

A pioneer of innovative products, Chopra developed a groundbreaking delivery system for CoQ10, a patented, hydrosoluble formulation that would benefit millions of people around the world. His emphasis on improving the bioavailability and delivery of essential nutrients raised the bar for the industry. Chopra was often quoted as saying: “We don’t want vitamins that simply enrich the toilet bowls,” hence his interest in pharmacokinetics and commitment to designing delivery systems to optimize absorption.

Life, Career, and Service

Born in Lahore, Punjab in pre-partition India, in 1940, Chopra and his family fled from their home during the Partition of 1947, eventually settling in Delhi, India, where they began a new life. These challenging beginnings and the ability to face adversity, adapt to new environments and circumstances, think creatively, solve problems, build connections, work tirelessly, and start again are among the qualities that Chopra exemplified throughout his life.

Chopra completed his undergraduate studies at L.M. College of Pharmacy in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in 1965 where he received the Gold Medal for Outstanding Academic Merit and University First Rank.

Upon receiving a full scholarship to Columbia University’s College of Pharmacy, Chopra left India with only $8 in his pocket. He didn’t know a single person in the U.S. at the time. He completed his graduate studies in industrial pharmacy at Columbia, becoming one of the world’s experts in chewable multivitamin formulations, timed-release formulations, and bio-enhanced supplements.

Awards and Recognitions

In 2006, the American College of Nutrition honored Chopra as the 2006 Industry Recipient of the prestigious Bieber Award in recognition of “his outstanding academic accomplishments and distinguished contributions in the nutrition industry.”

In the early 2000s, the FDA granted Tishcon orphan drug designations for its CoQ10 and ubiquinol products to treat pediatric congestive heart failure, Huntington’s disease, and a number of debilitating diseases associated with mitochondrial cytopathies. He was a generous supporter of the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and cared deeply about supporting patients with these rare diseases.

In 2022, Chopra was honored by the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) and awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award, given “to individuals in the natural products industry who have devoted their hearts and minds to the betterment of society through ethical and diligent business leadership.”

He was honored by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin – Queens Long Island chapter in 2022 and given an award “established to recognize individuals who through actions and pursuits have contributed significantly to the betterment of the community.”

Throughout his life, Chopra was deeply concerned about the underserved, and through Tishcon, he actively supported the work of Vitamin Angels, an organization that distributes essential nutrients and life-saving vitamins around the world, and other such organizations.

Raj received the Vitamin Relief Guardian Angel Award for his generous contributions, including donating over 20 million high-potency vitamin A softgels to help prevent vitamin A deficiency blindness in infants and children in Africa and Asia, as well as prenatal vitamins to supplement the diets of pregnant women, and multivitamins for young children.

Chopra was a mentor, role model, and inspiration to many. Despite significant health challenges, including living with Parkinson’s disease for many years, Chopra was a devoted husband to his beloved wife of 56 years, Asha (8/11/2024), a loving father to his three children, Geeta, Mona, and Raj Junior, and a doting grandfather to his granddaughter, Avana Grace.

Outside of his work, Chopra was an avid reader and lover of music. He enjoyed reciting poetry, from Urdu Shayari to Shakespeare, offering impassioned commentaries on world events, and playing trivia games.

Chopra will be remembered for his kindness, magnanimity, and innovative thinking, his dedication to excellence, his commitment to benefiting humanity, his unique leadership style, walking to the beat of his own drummer, his compassion, care, warmth, wisdom, and calm presence.

Funeral services were carried out per his wishes at a quiet private ceremony by his family on Feb. 16, 2026. A Memorial / Celebration of Life will take place in NY on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Condolences may be sent to the family: choprafamily321@gmail.com

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to those who are underserved, something Chopra was committed to, and/or to Parkinson’s disease research. Here are a few organizations, of many, to consider:

The Inn: Serving Dignity, Respect and Love – a local organization that offers essential services to those impacted by hunger, homelessness and poverty: https://the-inn.org/

American Indian College Fund – An organization that supports Native students to access higher education: https://collegefund.org/

Parkinson’s Unity Walk – Team Chopra fundraising page – Parkinson’s disease research: https://give.michaeljfox.org/team/806327