Dr. Koshy Ittyeipe of Sugar Land, TX passed away on Wednesday, March 7, 2025 at the age of 88. He was born on August 10, 1936 in Thumpamon at his mother’s house. Growing up, he lived in many places, moving from one parish to another depending on where his father, Rev. T.I. Ittyeipe, was posted- Karunagappally, Mavelikara, Pallom, and Melukavu to name a few. After his father retired, the family settled in Kodukulanji.
He graduated from St. Berchmans College with a degree in Zoology & Chemistry in Kerala, India. He gained a Master’s degree in Entomology from the University of Agra (graduated with distinction, 1961) as well as a PhD in Entomology from the University of the West Indies (1976).
He worked as a science teacher in CMS High School and Union Christian College in Kerala, India before moving to Brunei to be an Associate Professor of Zoology at St. Margaret’s College. While in Brunei, he and his wife Leela had their first two children, Sheba and Sheena. The family moved to Kingston, Jamaica in 1970, where their youngest, Shane, was born. In 1982, the family moved to Philadelphia, when Koshy joined FMC Corp, a Fortune 500 company. He gained increasing responsibilities managing global agrichemicals markets in the Caribbean, Latin America, North America and finally Asia Pacific before retiring as a Director of Research and Development. He then launched his own company, Chemical Consulting, Inc. in Philadelphia, where he served as Founder and President until 2022.
He was a very active member of the church, including being the convenor of the Annual CSI Family Conference (Philadelphia) in 1990. He had an early passion for photography and was an avid collector of coins, stamps, wine corks and matchboxes from all the restaurants he visited during his extensive travels around the world.
