E.R. Suryanarayan

E.R. Suryanarayan died peacefully at home on June 24, 2013. He was born in Bengaluru (then Bangalore), India on November 15, 1929 to Ramnath and Annapurna. He graduated from National College in Bangalore with degrees in Mathematics. He was 17 years old when India obtained its independence. He came to the United States in 1957 to further his studies and graduated with a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1960. The same year, he began teaching at the University of Rhode Island. His teaching career spanned 41 years. “Sury”, as he was known to his colleagues and students, served as Chairman of the Mathematics Department from 1984-86. The final years of his professorship at URI were fruitful, including work in fractals, and articles published in various professional journals. He also spent the later stages of his career advising and guiding students in Karnataka, India towards their post-graduate degrees. He and his wife, Indu, lived in Kingston RI for 51 years, spending winter months in India. He is survived by Indu and their three children, Rajaram Suryanarayan of North Kingstown RI, Kaveri Suryanarayan of Westwood MA and Sankar Suryanarayan of Princeton NJ, their families, including nine grandchildren, Viveka, Radha, Lila, Sanjay, Jayram, Tara, Anna, Patrick and Kirthi. He relished his role as a grandfather and will be greatly missed. Sury also leaves five siblings: E.R. Balasubramanyam of CA, E.R.C. Shekar of Bangalore India, Radha Sasishekaran of Boston MA, Manjula Vishwanathan of Pune India, and E.R.C. Ramachandran of Mysore India. He was predeceased by a sister, Balatha and a brother, E.R. Krishna, both of India. “From untruth, lead me to truth. From darkness, lead me to light. From death, lead me to immortality. Om, peace, peace, peace.” Arrangements will be private. Donations in memory of E. R. Suryanarayan can be made to The University of Rhode Island Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, Multicultural Center 202, 74 Lower College Road, Kingston, Rhode Island, 02881.