Venkat Sivarama Krishnan

Venkat was born in Thrissur, Kerala State, India, on March 4, 1926, to Bhageerathi and Sri. Venkatakrishna Iyer. He graduated from Vivekodayam Boys Higher Secondary School in Thrissur, continuing on to receive a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Maharaja’s College in Eranakulam, Kerala, India, and successfully completing his education through correspondence courses to become an associate member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers in London, England.

Venkat married his beloved Parvathy on June 30, 1949. They had two children: a son, Giridhari (Gary) and a daughter, Bhagirathy (Bhagi). Venkat and Parvathy were married just short of 74 years.

A brilliant chemical engineer, Venkat worked in the fertilizer manufacturing industry, starting as an operator at Fertilizers And Chemicals Travancore Limited, the first large-scale fertilizer plant in India, and retiring after 35 years of service, as a plant superintendent at Fertilizers Corporation of India in Rourkela. Venkat and his wife eventually joined their children in the United States, helping raise their grandchildren and becoming proud great-grandparents.  

Venkat was forward-thinking for his generation, self-motivated, highly disciplined, and always put his family first.  He was a connoisseur of Carnatic music throughout his life and recognized any ragam with ease. An avid reader, he enjoyed following current events. Venkat excelled in soccer and tennis as a young adult and enjoyed following American football and baseball after he settled in the United States. Venkat took great pride in maintaining peak physical fitness and walked several miles per day well into his nineties.

Venkat is preceded in death by his elder brother, Vaidyanathan, his elder sister, Parvathy, his younger brother, Raman, and his younger sister, Ponnammal. 

Venkat is survived by his wife, Parvathy Krishnan, his youngest sister, Kunjammal, his son and daughter-in-law Gary and Raji Krishnan, his daughter and son-in-law, Bhagirathy and Palghat Sahasranaman, his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Aroon and Smita Krishnan, his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Aneal and Svetlana Krishnan, his granddaughters Vanita and Sangita Sahasranaman, his great-granddaughters Rayna, Sarina, and Alina Krishnan, his great-grandsons Shiv and Kiril Krishnan, his great-grand godson, Benjamin Eisner, and many extended family and friends. He lived a rich and fulfilled life, and we miss him dearly.