Joseph Kurian

It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Dr. Joseph Kurian of Chettukandathil House, Shangaramangalam family of Eraviperoor, Thiruvalla. Dr. Kurian passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in Falls Church, Virginia, where he lived with his family. He was 81 years old.

Dr. Kurian was the son of C.J. Kurian and Annamma Kurian of the vast Shangaramangalam family. He was raised as one of five children, three brothers and two sisters. His parents were farmers. He lost his father as a child, but grew up surrounded by nature and a dense, loving family network that was part of a farming culture enriched by the Mar Thoma Church. The way of life was to share God’s grace with the entire community. His dedication to his faith and his community was instilled at a young age, and persisted until his passing. He attended St. John’s High School in Eraviperoor, Kerala, India, finding a love for mathematics at an early age. He attended St. Berchman’s College, University of Kerala, in Chenganacherry, Kerala, where he excelled in math and graduated “first class”. His passion for math drove his aspirations higher toward research and academia. He joined the Agricultural Statistical Research Institute in the mid ‘60s in New Delhi, India where he was part of the “Green Revolution” that aimed to increase agricultural output throughout India using novel statistical methods. This work thoroughly excited him and drove him to seek experiences in novel computational methods.

Around the time the first computers were introduced in India, Dr. Kurian joined the prestigious Indian Institute for Technology (IIT) New Delhi in the mid ‘60s as a computer programmer. He worked on the earliest programs ever written on a computer. He settled down in New Delhi, married his wife Susy in 1969 and had his first and only child, Annie, in 1975. He received his Masters Degree (1974) and eventually his PhD (1984) in Math and Computer Science from IIT New Delhi. A new chapter in Dr. Kurian’s life opened when his PhD thesis was reviewed at Grambling State University (GSU) in Louisiana, USA, and he was invited for a faculty position. In 1986, he decided to move to Ruston, Louisiana, USA, leaving behind the comforts of his mother country, his family, friends and Church to establish his academic career as a Professor at GSU. He published numerous research articles and received awards for his teaching. He taught his students to believe that education was the way to a better life. His family grew when his niece, Shoby, became part of his family while attending college at GSU. After more than 2 decades of service, he retired from GSU. He trained many students in math and computer science including giants in the field such as Vinod Khosla, founder of Sun Microsystems, who trained with Dr. Kurian at IIT Delhi.

Despite his ambition, skill and career advancement, Dr. Kurian remained humble, grounded in his faith to serve family and fellow brethren. He never said no to any friend or family member who needed help, a place to stay, a meal, or money to get themselves started. His home with his wife and child were always filled with visitors, some even staying for a few years. In fact Dr. Kurian was hosting his youngest brother, Bobby, during his education, when he experienced the biggest heartbreak of his life. Bobby tragically passed away as a teenager in an accident, a loss Dr. Kurian never recovered from. However, his love of God, his faith, and his humanity helped him get by. Dr. Kurian continued to help numerous people all over the world, wherever he had friends and family.

In retirement, he expanded his commitment to his Church, family and community. He and Susy moved to Boston in 2013 to help his daughter, Annie, and son-in-law, Scott as they started their family while Annie was in medical residency. He was there for the birth of his grandson Tristan and his granddaughter Julia, and helped care for them daily. For the last decade, he has been a doting grandfather experiencing the joys of seeing his grandchildren grow to become little personalities. When he developed renal failure requiring dialysis, he quietly persevered and exceeded all the norms of living on dialysis. When his wife, Susy, developed Alzheimer’s, he became her caregiver as well. Despite the health challenges that life imposed on him and Susy, Dr. Kurian never failed to be there for his family, his grandchildren, or his Church. He has been a faithful and charitable member of the Mar Thoma community throughout his life. His guiding light in life was to help others and give back to the community that raised him. He is survived by his loving wife, Susy, his devoted daughter, Dr. Annie Kruger, son-in-law Scott Kruger, his adoring siblings, Ammini Koshy, Mathew Kurian and Saramma Kurian, and his two beloved grandchildren, Tristan and Julia.