Rajinder Singh Kanwar

Rajinder "Raj" Singh Kanwar passed away on October 2, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. He was 76. His life brought him across continents, but he always found home when he was with his family and friends.

Mr. Kanwar was born on November 1, 1938 in the Gurdaspur District, Punjab, before the Independence and the partition of India. He was the fourth of eight children of Bhagat Ram Sulahria and Vidyawati Kattal. In the 1950s, his family moved to the new city of Chandigarh. Mr. Kanwar, an architect for most of his life, received his degree from Sir J.J. College of Art, Bombay, in 1966. He moved to the United States in 1970, first to Youngstown, Ohio, and then to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In August 1973, he married Vijay Lakshmi Kotwal and they settled in Urbana, Ohio, where their daughter, Joy, was born in October 1974. From 1975 to 1983, Mr. Kanwar took an opportunity to work as architect in Nigeria, where he was on the team designing the new Capital City of Abuja. His wife, daughter, brothers and brothers-in-law joined him there, and in May 1976, his son, Vivek (Vik), was born.

In 1977, Mr. Kanwar fulfilled his dream of becoming a U.S. Citizen, and in 1982, after years of traveling between continents, the family moved to the greater Orlando area and settled in Kissimmee, Florida. After moving to Florida, Mr. Kanwar broadened his architecture practice and obtained his licenses as a general contractor, mortgage broker and real estate broker, and began to work together with his wife. As an architect, Mr. Kanwar worked on the design teams of landmark projects such as Old Town, Watermania, and Disney-MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios). He also designed the family’s home, which was located in Hunter’s Creek, and where they lived for a decade. Mr. Kanwar served as the President of the India-America Association of Greater Orlando, as well as the Punjabi Sangh of Central Florida. He was an avid poet, writing in the classical Urdu language, and an enthusiast of the ghazal music form. As a poet, he participated in several local and international poetry readings. He most enjoyed having friends to his home for impromptu music and poetry parties.

He is survived by Vijay, his wife of 42 years, his children, Joy and Vik, who are both law professors, his son-in-law Sateesh Nori, an attorney, as well as four grandchildren, Zazie (born 2006), Juni (born 2011), and twins Shaan and Jhansi (born 2012). He was most proud of bringing his large extended family to the United States, and fostering a community over many years.