Yanjalagere Ramaiah

Yanjalagere Ramaiah, fondly known as “Doc,” “Raj,” or “Ramana” to family and friends, passed away peacefully in his home in Greer, SC, on Saturday, April 30th with his devoted wife of almost 60 years by his side, Shilaja Ramaiah. He would have been 84 years old on May 9th.

Ramana was born and raised in a small village called Yanjalagere in South India. His parents, Kenchappa and Alamma, were farmers who ran a tiny shop to supplement their meager income. Although his village had no running water or electricity, they were lucky enough to have a small school which children came to on foot from miles around. Due to lack of teachers, the school only covered 2 primary grades, teaching the basics of reading and math. Recognizing Ramana’s intelligence and strong drive, the local teacher told his parents to figure out a way to continue his education, so Ramana was sent at the tender age of 8 to live with an aunt in a nearby town. He only went home during school breaks to help his father, mother, and siblings in the fields. He never forgot the sacrifices they all made, so that he could attend school.

Relying on the charity of extended family and strangers, Ramana was sent from home to home for food and additional schooling. Charity in those days was leftover food handed out on a back doorstep after the family had eaten. When people forgot to put anything out for him, Ramana did not eat. His mom sent bags of peanuts that they grew to ensure he would not starve while his father sent what little money they had to ensure he had a room to stay in. Borrowing books from friends and reading under streetlamps because kerosene was too expensive, Ramana managed to excel in his classes, receiving scholarship after scholarship to cover tuition and fees. He attended Mysore Medical College, graduating in 1962. In 1964, seeking further training in cardiology, Ramana was recruited to come to the United States.

Ramana worked as a physician for 52 years, serving veterans, rural populations, and those economically disenfranchised. Believing in the power of education and the basic right of healthcare for all, Ramana ran yearly eye and medical camps and built three schools in the area in which he grew up. He created over 30 ongoing scholarships for students from that area to pursue higher education. To him, education was a way out of poverty. At the same time, he knew that running water and basic services needed to be addressed even before one could think of attending school, so he built wells, provided plows and seed, and built homes. He provided ongoing support whenever and wherever it was needed. For example, when he found out young girls were not attending school, because there were no restrooms for them, he made it a priority to have them built. The students who received his scholarships are now successful in a variety of careers, helping their own families, and in turn, the village from in which they grew up. Many say it takes a village to raise a child, but in this case, it took one man to transform a village and set off a chain of events that resounded in the region.

Ramana was an active, energetic man who couldn’t sit still. He loved gardening, especially the more physical aspects of chopping down trees, hauling wood, blowing leaves, and planting bushes. There was never a ladder he wouldn’t climb or a rope swing he wouldn’t try, much to the chagrin of his wife and doctors. Always by his side, Shilaja planted flowers and coaxed blooms in the woodland forest they called home. He loved the deer and never chased them away. We think they came from miles around. After expending his physical energy, Ramana would voraciously read medical journals and watch the news, listening to Indian classical music as well as symphony orchestral music as the day wound down. He liked to engage in political debate and was always excited to talk about the latest discoveries in medicine. Lifelong learners, Ramana and Shilaja enjoyed documentaries, old Indian films, and traveling. They traveled to 5 continents and over 30 countries together. They explored the US by crossing it twice, including cruising to Alaska. No one was ever a stranger to them. In the end, Ramana’s love of exploration was satisfied by traveling all over Greenville and Greer, finding new parks and trails to walk and various ice cream stores to sample. Butter Pecan was his favorite. He enjoyed a daily smoothie with his daughter and a trip to the peanut stand for some good boiled peanuts. Until the end he remained a farmer’s son.

Ramana is survived by his wife, 5 children, and 9 grandchildren.

A private service for family will be held.

In honor of Ramana, please sit in a garden and enjoy an ice cream cone. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude’s Hospital and Doctors Without Borders.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the RAMAIAH family.