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Gopi Podila Obituary
"Biotech has been a hidden gem here," said Podila during an interview for the local R&D Report magazine in 2008. "You need a critical mass to be really visible. I think it's getting there."
Podila, 52, left a teaching position at Michigan Technological University in 2000 to become the chair of the Biology Department at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
"We needed a department chair who was an experienced researcher, an accomplished biologist," said Dr. Lewis Radonovich, former UAH provost. "Gopi was a highly principled, fine human being. He was a solid man, a good man. He tried very hard to support his young faculty."
Radonovich said Podila helped start the biology doctoral program at UAH. That program recently included about 15 students, he said. Dr. Jack Fix, dean of the College of Science at UAH, said the biology department also included about dozen faculty members.
Podila's areas of research included bioenergy, plant-microbe interactions, plant genetics and biotechnology. Podila said in 2008 that his department was researching fungi and microbes that could help break down the cellulose from grass and trees to create the sugar necessary to produce alcohol for biofuel.
"We can do it," Podila said two years ago, "but they haven't figured out a way to make it mainstream."
The Biology Department was the most popular in the College of Science, Fix said, teaching about 450 undergraduates. He said the biology faculty members were particularly cooperative. To some degree, that started with Podila.
"He was a leader for the department," Fix said. "He was a very warm person. He was funny and a good advocate for his department."
Rena Webb, who is working on her masters degree in biology, said Podila was her adviser. "He really is the nicest man I've ever known," said Webb. "You don't feel like a graduate student, you feel like part of a family."
Funeral arranagements:
Visitation: 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at Berryhill Funeral Home, 2305 N. Memorial Parkway
Funeral: Hindu ceremony (for family and close friends only) at 1 p.m.
Family request: In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Gopi K. Podila Memorial Fund. Checks can be sent to Progress Bank, 201 Williams Ave., Huntsville, AL 35801.
Editorial obituary by The Huntsville Times staff, published in The Huntsville Times on February 15, 2010, and reprinted with permission.
Follow complete coverage of the tragedy, memorial and funeral plans and developments in the investigation: http://topics.al.com/tag/UAH%20shooting/index.html
80 Entries
KRIS TAMIRISA
March 13, 2018
Gopi was my best friend. We studied together in junior college in India. His mom used to give us both delicious food while we were studying together. But destinies in life took us in different paths. We were in contact on phone on and off because life here is very busy and takes lot out of you. One day I called him and his wife answered the phone and I asked for Gopi unaware of all what happened. Then his wife said Didnt you hear the news on TV??? I am not much of a TV guy to be honest. But when she told me , my hands let go of the phone and I felt someone punched me in my stomach and I could not hear anything his wife saying after that. It was a mental shock for me. I don't know how is his mom?? She is also MOTHER to me. My mom just went to heaven. I just lost another friend.. not a friend but a BROTHER!! Gopi and this other friend were my BROTHERS.. not just friends... life is very strange.. it's an enigma... ! I hope my sister Vani as difficult as it is doing well. I have been heart broken and always think of him and our mother Smt Ramalaxmi Devi garu ! My brother Gopi.. I miss you terribly... just miss you man!!
July 14, 2015
I was Dr. Podila's student at Ocimum Bio Solutions at Hyderabad. He was offering a Post Graduate Diploma Course in Bioinformatics with affliation with UAH. He was a really nice man and he was one of my inspiration to pursue my PhD in US. I am so sad to know what happened to him after 5 years. I was just checking my certificates and thought to do a google search and realized what had happened. I so sorry to here this incident. (Sandeep J Joseph, Atlanta, GA
July 31, 2014
Please accept my sincere prayers that go out to the surviving family and friends may the God of comfort continue to bless you and yours especially after such a tragic loss. Please accept my deepest sympathies. 2 Cor. 1:2,3.
Sriram
September 11, 2012
Dear Podila Family,
My sincere condolences for your loss which can never be filled. I do not know Dr. Gopi, but I am a fan of self made hard working people, I see Dr. Gopi one of them.
Plz keep faith in God and dont loose confidence in yourself.
Good Luck to your family.
How you can show support
July 31, 2012
RIP
Narayan Garimella
March 22, 2011
A tagic end to an indian star at the horizon. May his soul rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to his family members. Childhood friend at Mrs. A.V.N. College High School, Visakhapatnam, where all his brothers and Gopi were known to me durng the school days.
Ashley Dorsett
October 8, 2010
I didnt really know Dr. Podila, but his daughter Bindu and I used to be close friends. I pray that she and the rest of her family are doing well in the aftermath of this tragedy. I know that the Lord has an amazing plan for them and is holding them in His hands. I am praying for the Podila family, my love and suport goes out to them.
Vasavi, Chandra Kakaraparti
March 1, 2010
To Vani, Bindu and Anila
We are extremely saddened by what happened to Dr. Gopi. Though we personally do not know you, we pray to god to give strength to your family during this hardest of times. May Lord Krishna shower his kindness on you and your family and give strength to all of you to face this tremendous grief.
March 1, 2010
Dear Vani,
I heard and read the news in News papers in Andhra about the tragic incidence and death of Dr. Gopi and just shocked and could not believe thic thing can happen. We are contemporaries at Andhra and in 2007 he had been to our Sardar Patel university to deliver a lecture and had a great time remembering and recollecting the things. Eventhough we donot keep in touch regularly I have no words to express for this loss. May Lords blessings with you and gives strength to come out of this.
Dr. J.S.S.Mohan and family,
Department of Biosciences
Sardar Patel University
Vallabh Vidyanagar -388 120
Gujarat
Banasri Sen
February 27, 2010
Dear Bani:
When I heard the news in CNN, I didn't know that the person is Dr. Podila whom we knew from Hoghton, MTU.
We are just shocked!
I know no language is enough to comfort you at this difficult time.
We only pray for you and for your kids to God to help you to become a strong mother to raise Bindu and Anila.
I am thinking of you, your face is in my heart.
Even after so many years oF no communication, I feel you, cry for you and pray for you.
With deepest sympathy,
Banasri Sen and family from Greensboro, North Carolina
(336)327-4976
[email protected]
February 24, 2010
Dear Vani, Our heartfelt sympathies are with you.
May Swamivari blessings be with you especially at this time.
Oka telugu mithruralu
Sridevi Ghantasala and
Muralidhar Ghantasala (Michigan)
Nick Codignotto
February 23, 2010
I work with Gopi's nephew Pavan and listened to him talk about this tragedy yesterday when he came back to work. I am heartbroken at your loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
Ramana & Ramani Munagala
February 21, 2010
We convey our deepest condolences to Vani, Bindu, and Anila Podila in this time of great tragedy of the unconscionable and senseless loss of a loving husband, father, and our dear friend. We met Gopi shortly after his arrival in the US for graduate studies at LSU, Baton Rouge, and became fast and close friends. We looked forward to his weekly, and sometimes more frequent visits to our home along with our mutual friend Mohan. We spent many entertaining hours and Ramani, my wife, and he keenly enjoyed experimenting with cooking of many new dishes which all four of us found invariably edible, but the majority being tasty and enjoyable. He always found time, in his extremely busy schedule, to remember and call to wish us on our birthdays. We feel deeply the loss of a dear friend and will always cherish our fond memories together. May God provide strength and support to the Podila family.
Srilakshmi
February 21, 2010
Dearest Vani Atha, Bindu, Anila,
Hearing about Gopi Mamayya's life here on earth from his friends and close colleagues has touched us all deeply.
There are few words to convey how deeply we feel for you. May God bless you all.
With love
Sridhar Missula Sharma
February 20, 2010
Dearest Vani Atta, Bindu, Anila,
Words cant really express... We feel for you and pray for you and mavayya.
With prem and om,
Sridhar, Amanda, Nanna, Amma, Srilakshmi
Daniel Moffat
February 19, 2010
I am so very sorry for this loss - I pray for the Podila family and the UAH family - so sad for this to happen in our community -
GOD will pull us all through -
May HE bring you PEACE during your grief.
Bob & Tami Lang
February 19, 2010
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Podila family during this time of loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers now and in the days to come.
Carol Stewart
February 19, 2010
My family wish to send our deepest condolences to the family of Gopi Podila.
What a awful tragedy ! We can not imagine what you have had to endure and our hearts are crushed to know such a fine human being was taken away.
May your faith and many fond memories embrace your hearts and souls that are in need of much comfort.
Please know we will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Please take care always.
Gopal Chivkula
February 19, 2010
Very sad. Country lost a GENIUS. It is difficult to digest. May God bless the family members giving them lot of courage which they need now. My prayers are with the family. -Gopal Chivkula St.Louis
Bhanu, Anjaneya, Srilakshmi, Sridhar & Amanda Missula
February 19, 2010
We are deeply shocked to hear the sad loss of Gopi. We pray for his soul to rest in peace. Words are not enough our deepest and sincere condolences.
Slocum Family
February 19, 2010
God bless your family during this loss of your loved one. May you be strengthened in knowing that you will meet with him again by the grace of God.
February 18, 2010
Our thoughts and prayers go out to
Dr. Podila's family. May God Bless you and keep you in his loving care.
He will be missed by many Friends,
Co workers, and UA of Huntsville.
rahul rameshbabu[LMS]
February 18, 2010
I knew Dr.Podila when I had to do my Science project at LMS. When I talked about my idea, all the professors(Dr.Ng, Dr.Stallsmith, Dr.Davis and Dr.Leahy) helped me with it. Dr.Podila let me use his lab to do my Science project. He also came to check on me frequently. That showed that he really cared about what I was doing. I am very grateful for all his help. I feel very sorry for the family.
Vijayalakshmi Rao
February 18, 2010
My sincere prayers for peace and strength - for Gopi's wife, children, his mother, brothers and their families - to get through this unfair and difficult time of grief. May God give you the courage and the means to carry on Gopi's vision for your future.
Teresa Roney
February 18, 2010
I am so sorry for this horrible tragedy and your profound loss.
Michael Duguay
February 18, 2010
Vani and Family,
I was so saddened to hear about your tragic loss. I've thought of you often since our days in the classroom back at Michigan Tech. And my thoughts are with you and your family now during this difficult time. My heart goes out to you.
February 18, 2010
Dearest Podila Family,
We are so sorry for your loss and we will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!
Willard Kistler
February 18, 2010
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
February 18, 2010
Dr. Gopi Podilla played a very special role and part in my husband’s life as his advisor. Through Matt's stories, I’ve had the opportunity to learn and deeply appreciate that Gopi was far more than an advisor however. I would like to express my gratitude to Gopi for being so wonderful to Matt, and being such a positive person in his life. For this, I’m beyond grateful. Gopi clearly was a very special person who deeply touched the lives of many. His death is an incredible loss, and that he died so tragically is truly unfortunate. My heart goes out to his family, knowing that words can not express what they must be going through right now. May the kind words and sentiments of so many who love and respect Gopi provide some form of comfort in this time of tremendous grief. Also to his family, may you have many people close to you that will help aid in your strength towards regaining comfort and peace and keeping Gopi living on in loving memories.
Harini and Belur Dasarathy
February 18, 2010
Dear Smt. Vani Podila,
Please accept our heartfelt condolences. May God give you the strength to bear the loss and carry on looking after your two precious daughters Bindu and Anila, with the support of your extended family and friends.
May God bless the departed Soul with eternal peace.
With our very best wishes to you and yours for a brighter future in the years to come,
Sincerely
Harini and Dasarathy
Your Huntsville India Friends
February 18, 2010
Gopi Podila made the most of his time on earth. His influence will continue to change the world, for as he has modeled ethical, kind, compassionate behavior, so will those whose lives he has touched. My tears fall with those of his family for the great loss they are experiencing. May memories of his goodness and kindness follow them every day of their lives, and may they see that his legacy lives on through those whose lives his has touched and influenced. My deepest condolences. May God bless his soul and bless his family.
Lakshmi Veluvolu
February 18, 2010
I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of Gopi Krishna Podila who was my MS classmate at Nagarjuna University. My sincere condolenses to all his family members and my prayers are with you all the time. May God will give his Peace and Strength to his wife and children at this difficult times and years to come...
Devi KanyaKumari Podila
February 18, 2010
To Vani, Bindu, Anila
Our sincere condolences to you all. It is an immense shock to hear such a tragedy. May god give you the strength to you and the girls to recover from this tragedy.
Podila SitaramaRao,Devi, Murali,Mrudula
Cardiff, UK
Srinivas & Bharathi Kaza
February 17, 2010
We are deeply shocked to hear the sad demise of Dr Gopi Podila. Our sincere condolences to all his family members. We do remember his down to earth attitude. He mixed very freely with all of us when he visited Hyderabad and his rendering of song 'Tharali Ravamma' (a telugu patriotic song ) will always be remmeberd. May his soul rest in peace and may God give all the strength to Vani, children and all the family members in this sad and difficult times and in years to come.
Srinivas & Bharathi Kaza, Hyderabad, India
Heike Bücking
February 17, 2010
I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dr. Podila, an accomplished scientist and colleague. My sincere condolences go out to his family, and his friends, colleagues and students.
R.M. Yates
February 17, 2010
Dr. Podila accepted my invitation to conduct a workshop on "Responsible Conduct in Research" in August 2003 at Alabama A&M University. We were all impressed with his knowledge and expertise. To the Podila family, I trust the memories that you keep in your heart will hold you close to your loved one, and will help bring comfort and peace.
Krishnan Chittur
February 17, 2010
I cannot ever remember Gopi losing his cool - always on even keel - perceptive and a unique sense of humor that used to show up unexpectedly. Gopi helped teach the fundamentals of biology to my bioinformatics class - shared his notes, his expertise, his time. As we, in chemical engineering were struggling with designing an introductory biology class for ALL of our chemical engineers, Gopi stepped in with very good ideas - that class, taught during Spring semester is something that our chemical engineers really enjoy. We had talked about expanding our biology requirement to at least two classes for all of our chemical engineers. Gopi was a terrific advisor - as I heard often from his students. He was very generous with his laboratory and the equipment he had - I know, my students and I have benefited from such generosity. He was always full of ideas - not just about plants and fungi and symbiosis - but about education in general and what we could do at UAHuntsville in bioinformatics. He was widely known and admired for his knowledge and the ability to share such knowledge, I did.
This is a terrible loss for us, on campus - I cannot even imagine how his family feels. Gopi's life had an enormous impact on so many here in Huntsville, we will always remember him.
I do not understand why his life was taken away from us, from his family.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Heike Bücking
February 17, 2010
I am deeply saddened by this tragic and senseless loss of a highly respected colleague. My sincerest condolences to the family of Dr. Podila.
Bruce Fuchs
February 17, 2010
I went to graduate school with Dr. Podila many years ago. He was a dedicated and talented scientist and a warm and caring person with a gentle soul. He made me my first vegetarian entrees 10+ years before I became vegetarian.
He will be missed.
Bonnie Roberts
February 17, 2010
I grieve with the Podila family in their tragic loss. He has such kind eyes. I know his family will miss him very much, and that it feels impossible to make sense of what has happened in their lives. I want his family to know that so many people, here in Huntsville, and across the nation, have gathered with them, in spirit, sending strength, hope, and prayers for healing.
Laura Mathews
February 17, 2010
I am so sorry for your tragic loss. Dr. Podila was an accomplished scholar and he will be missed. Know that many people are praying for his family during this difficult time.
February 17, 2010
Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the Podila family. We pray that God provide you with guidance, peace and strenth during these difficult times.
Ramesh and Gitana, Boston, Mass
February 17, 2010
My prayers are with the Podila family. May God be with you.
Karen Lewter (Huntsville, '79 Alum.)
Malathy Rao
February 17, 2010
My prayers are with Dr.Podila's family. May they find peace and some comfort in knowing that Dr. Podila touched and affected and improved so many lives through his character, teaching, research and demeanor. May friends and family comfort you and give you strength during this difficult time.
P Joseph
February 17, 2010
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
February 17, 2010
My sympathy to the Podilla family. I was shocked and saddened to learn of this senseless tragedy. I will remember my graduate school friend's warm smile and gentle manner. Steve Ropski, Erie, Pennsylvania
February 17, 2010
To the family of Dr. Podila,
It is an immense shock to hear such a tragedy. May god give immense strength to his wife Vani and both the girls to recover from this tragedy.
from
Rekha, Sulochana, Nikhil
Bristol, United Kingdom.
Mary Castleberry
February 17, 2010
To the family of Dr. Podila please accept my condolences to each of you during your trying time of sorrow. Let the holy spirit intervene with you and keep you in its ever presence. Look to the hills from whence cometh your help. I pray for inner strength and courage to help you endure your tragic loss. Remember the times you had with him and keep him in your hearts and memories will forever be present. Thank him for all his accomplishments and contributions to the faculty, students, colleagues, staff and UAH and for his ever presence as a mentor to many.
Padma Sivasailam
February 17, 2010
Our thoughts and prayers for the Podila family. I pray that God may grant you the courage and strength to overcome the grief caused by his loss.
Carmen Buchanan
February 17, 2010
My deepest sympathies to the Podila family. I wish for you strength and healing. My prayers are with you during this time.
Carmen Buchanan
Kenneth Damann
February 17, 2010
The faculty of the Dept.of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology at LSU where Gopi Podila earned his MS in 1983 are deeply saddened by his death.
He is fondly remembered.
June Jeffries
February 17, 2010
My sympathy to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Podilla. This tragedy has touched the entire country. Peace and healing to you each day.
Indian Academic
February 17, 2010
I am so sorry for the loss to the family. Wishing you strength and peace
Sumita Rao
February 17, 2010
Dear Ravi and Bhanu, and the Podila family:
Daddy, Mummy, Sundeep, I and the entire Gosala family are shocked beyond words; we pray for his soul to rest in peace and for his wife and children to find the strength!
Words are not enough! Our deepest, sincere condolences..
Sumita, for the Gosala family
February 16, 2010
My prayers with the family. I appreciated reading about how supportive Dr. Podila was to students and others.
Gloria Greene
February 16, 2010
Dr. Podila was a wonderful man and mentor. My prayers and thoughts are with his family
tim gillotte
February 16, 2010
Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it].
Kush Khatri
February 16, 2010
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Raghu & Pankaja Echempati
February 16, 2010
Vani, Bindu, Anila and members of Podila family:
Gopi is like my younger brother; he taught me survival skills: floating on your back on water, ‘discovered’ jalapeno chips for my wife, Pankaja, and made the best vegetarian pizza for our daughters, Sharwari and Aparna. We will miss him but he will be always 'alive in our thoughts and minds'. Vani and all, keep the strengths have courage to fearlessly move on in his academic paths. Love,
Matthew Hymes
February 16, 2010
Dr. Podila was a great man who had a deep impact on my life and career. As an undergraduate at Michigan Tech he had faith in my potential as a scientist and supported this strongly through his advice and teachings. His classes were tough and made me work hard, but this created greater appreciation for his teachings and my passion for biology. I was lucky enough to be invited into his lab and earn my master's degree. I have taken his passion into my work and will continue to do so.
My condolences go out to his family and children. He was taken from this world too soon. May god grant you strength in this difficult time.
February 16, 2010
To the family and friends of Dr. Podila, please be encouraged, rely on your memories, and know how much Dr. Podila is loved and remembered. He did much for UAH, Huntsville, other students, he touched lives and made a difference to so many.
Sam Prasadh
February 16, 2010
As a fellow countryman and having read about Gopi's amazing accomplishments in such a short life span of just 52 years please accept my heartfelt condolence.
Prasadh
February 16, 2010
Your family is in my prayers.
Kevin McMullins
2007 UAH graduate
Balla Singh
February 16, 2010
Our sincerest condolences and prayers to the family of Dr. Gopi Podila in the time of need. A loss is never substituted; and when tragic, becomes irreplaceable.
Sebastien Duplessis
February 16, 2010
I spent 3 months as a visiting scholar in Gopi's lab at MTU in 99. He made everything perfect for my stay there and I have great memories of that part of my life. I am very sad for losing a colleague that I enjoyed to meet regularly in meetings. Gopi achievements in the american university system are admirable and it is a tragic loss for our scientific community. All my deepest thoughts and sincere condolences go to Vani, his two daughters and family.
Chaitanya Vemulapalli
February 16, 2010
I met Dr. Podila in 2003 for the first time for my MS admission in UAH.I never thought something like this would happen to such an excellent and a kind Professor.He is the symbolic icon to represent how a great person should be.Still I feel this as tragic and unbelievable incident and I wish this should be a bad dream. I pray for his soul to rest in peace in heaven and also my prayers for his family. God! Please give more strength to his wife Vani and both kids to come over this situation.
February 15, 2010
My sincere condolences to the family, friends, students and colleagues of the late Dr. Gopi Podila who was recruited to the top of the academic ladder of the University of Alabama only to be struck down so early in his career. He has had a distinguished career with authorship in the most prestigious journal Nature and was well on the way to accomplishing a whole lot more. I did not know Dr. Podila but as an academician and entrepreneur in the Biotechnology field, I salute the work of Dr. Podila in the area of plant microbe interaction and say with sadness that Huntsville has lost a "gem" who cannot be replaced. May his soul rest in peace.
Girish Kotwal
February 15, 2010
My sincere condolences to the family, friends, students and colleagues of the late Dr. Gopi Podila who was recruited to the top of the academic ladder of the University of Alabama only to be struck down so early in his career. He has had a distinguished career including authorship in the most prestigious journal Nature and was well on the way to accomplishing a whole lot more. I did not know Dr. Podila nor did I have the good fortune of meeting him, but as an academician and entrepreneur in the Biotechnology field, I salute the work of Dr. Podila in the area of plant microbe interaction and say with sadness that Huntsville and the world has lost a "gem" who cannot be replaced. May his soul rest in peace and may his family find solace that his legacy and work will go on.
Anant Godbole
February 15, 2010
Gopi and I were 40-something professors at Michigan Tech, before we left, roughly at the same time, to further our careers in the South..he went to AL and I went to TN -- both as dept chairs. Even back then, while we raised our families and went to Indian functions with our wives and children (Vani and Gopi's kids were just a couple of years younger than Kalpana and my two youngest ones), I realized that he was one of the key research figures at MTU -- understated but rich with ideas, possibilities, and promise. I am so sorry his life has been cut short so senselessly.
Peter Lammers
February 15, 2010
The scientific community has lost an intelligent and compassionate researcher, teacher, mentor and leader. Gopi traveled widely to share his passion for science. He gracefully embodied objectivity, critical thinking and tolerance as the key values required for civilized discourse. I hope his family will come to know and remember that his influence in the world extended well beyond his adopted home in Alabama.
amarnadh brahmamdam
February 15, 2010
Gopi was my childhood friend. We both lived in an educated neighborhood,where he lived in 13th A Street, where as i used to live 13th B Street in Guntur, India and we went to MGH School, Guntur, India during 1967-1972 and we have had good friendship.
I have lost one of my best childhood friend. Convey our deepest heart felt condolences to his wife Smt.Vani and his two daughters. Last December, Gopi lost his father. Please convey our condolenses to his collegues who went to heaven along with him.
I am praying the almighty to take these souls to heaven with peace.
Amarnadh brahmamdam. Springfield, IL
[email protected]
Kathy Gierer
February 15, 2010
I only know Dr. Podila through the words and thoughts of others. What I see is a talented, caring, brilliant man. What a loss to the UAH family as well as his own family and friends. My deepest sympathy during this tragic time. I hope the caring support of friends and strangers alike will bring you some measure of peace.
SCOTT CHAMBERLAND
February 15, 2010
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Kamala Bhat
February 15, 2010
A tragic senseless loss of enthusiastic excellent teacher, a well known researcher and a great friend. No words can express the shock of his tragic loss in such a manner. No family should have to go through such sorrow. My heartfelt condolences to the his young family. He has been taken in the prime of his life, he had so much to share and give to the world to make it a better place for all of us.
May God give the family strength to pass this horror and hold on to the memories of an inspirational person he was.
No words will erase the shock, sadness and tragic loss of our Dear Dr GOPI KRISHNA PODILLA
Peter Takes
February 15, 2010
I am deeply, deeply saddened by the tragic loss of my dear friend and colleague from graduate school. He will always be in my prayers and fondest memories.
Peter A. Takes, Ph.D., RAC
Sathish Sundaram
February 15, 2010
I will always remember Dr. Podila as a warm and kind-hearted person who mentored me throughout my stay at Michigan Tech as my Ph.D. advisor. I vividly remember those days and was fortunate enough to get to know his family as well. My thoughts and prayers are with them. Dr. Podila was a credit to the society and his tragic passing away is a tremendous loss to the community as a whole and not just to those whose lives he has directly enriched. It appears God calls back soon the ones he likes most. May his soul rest in peace
Krishna Ramesh
February 15, 2010
I was so shocked and saddened by the news that I spent the entire night of Shivrathri* praying for the families of those affected.
I remember Dr. Podilla as a very warm, friendly and practical person. Though I was not in the Bio dept. We met several times on the backdrop of Indian functions and I was always in awe of his charm and brilliance.
I pray GOD grant his family strength to go through life knowing Dr. Podilla was a genius and will be missed by one and all who knew him.
*(Shivrathri, which this year was on Feb 12th, is a annual festival where devotees of Lord Shiva stay up all night in meditation of the Lord. I am sure Dr. Podilla attained Shiva's abode)
Greg Brovont
February 15, 2010
I feel very lucky to have known Dr. Podila. When I first had Dr. Podila as a young, immature biology student at Michigan Tech, I thought he was too hard and unfair. I later ended up leaving school, and when I came back I was more focused. When I saw that Dr. Podila was teaching Biochem 3, my last class needed to graduate, I was initially not happy about it. I went to see him and discussed many things. He gave me study materials, study tips, and lots of 1 on 1 help that I had never had from a professor. I quickly realized that I was lazy years earlier. He taught me about hard work and as a teacher today, I often bring him up to my students, about how he changed the way I looked at things. I learned so much more from Dr. Podila than just biology. I cannot begin to say in words how sorry I am that this happened. You will be missed Dr. Podila. Thank you for everything.
Tammy Crenshaw
February 15, 2010
My prayers are with his family.
Tammy
Trisha Colling
February 15, 2010
Gopi Podila was one of those rare people was made a difference in my life. I met Dr. Podila 20 years ago as an undergraduate student at Michigan Technological University. I worked in his laboratory until I graduated. He treated us like family, always supportive, kind, and respectful. He supported me in some very difficult times in my college career, giving me the courage to do things that I thought I could not do. Over the years he became my friend, still supporting me in my career endeavors today. I have never forgotten how good he was to me and I have always tried to treat my students with the same respect and kindness. He was a great man, honest, caring, and so thoughtful. I am thankful to have known him and will miss him dearly. I am so very sorry for his family, I can't imagine the depth of their loss as it is so much greater than mine. I just want them to know that he was an incredible man, who not only excelled at science, he truly touched people's lives.
With love and respect,
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