Ajit Rajaram Tungare Retired as New Jersey's chief forensic scientist Ajit Rajaram Tungare passed away on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center in New Brunswick, N.J. He was 67 years old. Ajit was born in Thane, India, in 1949, the eldest child of Rajaram and Kusum Tungare. He spent his early years in Mumbai, and received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Bombay University in 1969. In 1970, he moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies, completing a master's degree in forensic science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Ajit dedicated his life to public service. He was a 38-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police, retiring in 2011 as the state's chief forensic scientist. Ajit married his wife, Vaiju Tungare, in 1979. He was a soft-spoken and humble person, dedicated to his family, and an astute scientist who rose to the top ranks of his profession. He bravely fought a long battle with ALS since his diagnosis in 2009, and his endurance and positive outlook throughout were an inspiration to all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Vaiju; brother, Sandeep Tungare; sister, Alka Pradhan; a large extended family, and dear friends. Services will be on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Par-Troy Funeral Home, 95 Parsippany Rd., Parsippany, (973) 887-3235 or visit partroyfuneralhome.com. Cremation to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, 42 Broadway, Suite 1724, New York, N.Y. 10004.