Nick Selva

Mirusuvil, Sri Lanka, August 11, 1952 – Connecticut, USA, September 15, 2025

It is with tremendous sorrow that we announce the passing of Gnanapragasam Nicholas Selventhiran, fondly known as Indiran or Nick, the youngest of six children born to Gabrielpillai Alagakone Gnanapragasam of Neerveli, Sri Lanka and Mariapillai Gnanapragasam of Mirusuvil, Sri Lanka. Indiran was the loving husband of Terrencia Selventhiran, beloved father to AnnMarie Sharlini Selventhiran, and adored father-in-law of Tyler Andreozzi.

Indiran was born on August 11, 1952, in Mirusuvil, Sri Lanka, a beautiful village in the Jaffna peninsula surrounded by palmyra and coconut groves. His parents were Tamil-trained teachers who worked in various schools across Northern Sri Lanka. As educators, they stressed the importance of a proper education to their children. To them, education was the key to success in life – a way to uplift oneself and give back to one’s community. Indiran was a deeply intelligent child but also fun-loving, with a wide circle of friends. He enjoyed challenging his teachers at St. John Bosco’s Vidyalayam and St. Patrick’s College Jaffna. In later years, he would entertain everyone with many stories of his and his friends’ childhood pranks and hijinks.

Upon graduating high school in Jaffna, Indiran explored opportunities to continue his higher education. As several of his older siblings had already left the country to pursue further training and/or work opportunities, Indiran was encouraged to look beyond Sri Lanka’s borders. In 1978, he immigrated to the United Kingdom, where he soon began his engineering studies at Middlesex Polytechnic. Engineering appealed to Indiran’s keen mathematical sense. While concepts of physics and calculus would confuse most people, they sparked a lifelong interest in Indiran, a curiosity to learn more and more.

On August 7, 1986, in Cheshire UK, Indiran became engaged to Terrencia, fondly known as Terri. Terri was the perfect match for Indiran. They were the most generous and loving couple, both coming from large and supportive Tamil Catholic families. Rumor has it that Indiran ran up a very expensive phone bill with his lengthy long-distance calls to fiancée Terri who was then residing in the USA. Their marriage was solemnized on August 27, 1988, at a Catholic service held in New Britain, Connecticut. Indiran and Terri were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Sharlini, on August 10, 1989. The young family settled in the USA, building a community in Connecticut, spending a few happy years in Vermont, and then returning to their happy home in Danbury, Connecticut. Indiran found work as an engineer at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), a great opportunity for him to flex his creative skills. At IBM, he produced his first patent for a self-developed technology.

Challenging times lay ahead for Indiran. At age 37, he experienced a health setback with a diagnosis of heart disease. He and Terri endeavored to get through this difficult period for the sake of their young daughter. Terri pursued higher studies and graduated as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), much to the delight and pride of her family. Indiran was her biggest cheerleader. He was a champion for her education, and proudly boasted about her perseverance despite working a full-time job and raising Sharlini. In spite of all his health issues, Indiran remained an extremely positive presence. He was someone who always looked forward and never backwards. Indiran’s sunny personality and engaging way of making you feel ‘at home’ drew countless friends from everywhere. It’s no surprise that Terri’s family grew to love him just as much as his own family. To know Indiran, was to love him. In his presence, you were guaranteed to learn and laugh.

Indiran always cared, whether it was for his nieces and nephews’ futures, his friends, downtrodden populations around the world, or the plight of Tamils suffering back home. He went out of his way to help others, whether it was fixing someone’s broken VCR, donating money to a cancer fund, or lending whatever support he could to a friend in need. Indiran never shirked from his responsibility. His word was his honor - he never forgot this from all the lessons his parents taught him. He spent his best years in his beloved home in Danbury where he spent countless days gathering tools and gadgets to engineer clever fixes to the home and pool. From there, Indiran and Terri were able to see Sharlini off to university, launch her scientific career, and marry the son-in-law of their dreams, Tyler. Tyler was welcomed as a son from the start, fondly calling Indiran and Terri ‘Amma’ and ‘Appa’. Indiran would tell his family and friends about how proud he was of Sharlini and Tyler – their wedding on January 13, 2024, was a highlight in his life.

Indiran’s family and friends worried about how he was going to cope with a move to a retirement facility in 2025. On the contrary, Indiran remained his positive and engaged self to the end. Whether it was on the phone with relatives or entertaining visitors, he would want to know how you were doing or what your loved ones were up to. He was a lifelong Catholic who took comfort and solace in his faith. When others might have crumbled, his faith in God and in people kept him going.

In the early morning hours of Monday, September 15, 2025, Indiran peacefully departed from this world, following in the steps of his parents and all the loved ones who passed before him. He was a loving husband, devoted father, adored brother, cherished uncle, loyal friend, and exceptional human being. Indiran, we will always remember your love and kindness. Your memories and your stories will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Please rest knowing that you have led an incredible life with nothing to regret. You have left only happy memories for us all to treasure. We love you and will miss you forever