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Sundaralingam

Muttaiya Sundaralingam

Sundaralingam

Muttaiya Sundaralingam

Muttaiya And Indrani Sundaralingam

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Case Western Reserve University Harvard University Ohio State University University of Pittsburgh University of Wisconsin

Muttaiya Sundaralingam Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Jan. 2, 2005.

SUNDARALINGAM
MUTTAIYA and INDRANI
Professor Muttaiya and Indrani Sundaralingam, a loving husband and wife, died together during the morning of December 26, 2004 in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka as a result of the forces of nature. Professor Muttaiya Sundaralingam, 73, also known as Sunda, was boin in Taiping, Malaysia on September 21, 1931. He attended King Edward VII School in Taiping (1939-1948), Kokuvil Hindu College (1949-1951) and th eUniversity of Ceylon-Colombo (1952-1956). In 1958, at the age of 26, he ventured on a one month journey to the United States by steam ship to further his education. Within just 3 years, he obtained a Ph.D. in Chemistry in the field of Crystallography at the Univesity of Pittsburgh. Professor Sundaralingam went on to hold academic positions at several prestigious insitutions: University of Washington-Seattle, Harvard Unviersity, Case Western Reserve University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Oxford University and The Ohio State University. Professor Sundaralingam performed intensive research and used his vast knowledge to determine the molecular structure of biological molecules such as nucleic acids and their constituents. A world renowned leader in his field, he received many awards including a John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, 1975-1975 and a University of Pittsburgh Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award, 1986. He was among the top 300 of the 1,000 most cited scientists for work published from 1965-1978. In 1990, he was given the position of Ohio Regent's Eminent Scholar and PRofessor in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and became the Director of the Biological Macromolecular Structure Center at The Ohio State University. Professor Sundaralingam had true greatness. In 1992, the space shuttle Columbia took 16 of his experiments into space to investigate the growth of crystals in zero gravity. The enormity of his scientific endeavors is evidenced by his ability to publish over 350 papers in top scientific journals including Science and Nature. His driveand motivation kepth him going even after his official retirement in December of 2002. Indrani Sundaralingam, 63, also known as Indra, was born in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka on November 2, 1941. She attended St. Mary's School in Trincomalee and then attended Matras University. In 1966, Indra came to the United Sates to join Sunda in the bond of marriage. She was an extremely loving wife, mother and grandmother. Indra instilled her knowledge of the Sri Lankan cultural traditions into her children's upbringing in addition to teaching these principles to her grandchildren. She inspired her children to be individuals with refined characteristics and to uphold strong family values. Sunda and Indra's love for people can be exemplified in numerous ways. After establishing themselves int he United States, they helped sponsor many family and friends to come to America. Their actions in helping coordinate the establishment of these individuals in America have and will continue to affect future generations. Professor Sundralingam and Indrani are survived by: their 3 children; Sharmini, 37, married to Shiva Shanker of Columbus, Ohio; Rohan, 34, of Chicago, Illinois; and Mohan, 33 of Columbus, Ohio; and their 3 grandchildren Nirvan, 7, Kiran, 4, and Sahaana, 2. Professor Sundaralingam was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Vernugopal, 1933-2004 (New Jersey) and his sister Saraswathy 1935-1994 (Sri Lanka) and is survived by 7 brothers: Nadarajah (Singapore), Navaratnam (Malaysia), Ratnasabapathy (Malaysia), Gunaratnam (England), Darmarajah (Sri Lanka), Paramesvaran (Lancaster, CA), Kulasingam (Lancaster, CA) and one sister, Thilakavathy (Canada). Indrani is preceded in death by her parents and survived by 5 brothers in Madison, Wisconsin: Ananda, Sivalingam, Manogaran, Baheetharan, Chandrakanthan and one sister, Sakunthalarani (Columbus, OH). They will be greatly missed by many loving relatives and friends. Donations can be made on the couple's behalf to either Doctors Without Borders or UNICEF. The sudden and tragic loss of Professor Sundaralingam and his wife, Indra can only be comforted by the thoughts that they perished together in the island that they knew as their homeland.
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Recent Activity

January 7, 2005

Bob Bergstrom posted to the memorial.

January 4, 2005

Nellie and Brett Evans posted to the memorial.

December 30, 2004

Kathleen posted to the memorial.

4 Entries

Bob Bergstrom

January 7, 2005

I am shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Sunda and his wife Indrani. Sunda was a truly great man, and I will always be deeply grateful for the education and opportunities that I received in his laboratory at the University of Wisconsin. Indrani was my landlord, for one year in Madison. Sunda and Indrani were very proud of their children, and loved them very much, and, despite their currentgrief, Sunda's children must be equally proud to have had two such truly great parents. Sunda was an extremely intelligent man, and a very tough professor. I will always remember his cane striking my lab bench with force, fearing that the next blow may come closer yet. But, in the years since graduate school, I discovered that he was also an extremely supportive, loyal, humane, and warm person. Looking out my office window, I see that the flags on neighboring buildings are at half mast, in honor of the tsunami victims. To me, those flags are a tribute to Sunda and Indrani - and a very fitting tribute, indeed. Sunda and Indrani will be remembered and honored by many of us for the rest of our lives. If a person's greatness can be measured by the number of people whose lives were bettered and enriched by that person's efforts, then Sunda must be considered among the greatest.

Nellie and Brett Evans

January 4, 2005

We are close friends of Krishan Paramesvaran in California. Our hearts go out to your family. Words can never ease the pain of a loss, just remember to cherish those you have with you. Our prayers are with you and your family.

Kathleen

December 30, 2004

You are in our prayers at this time.

Debra V

December 29, 2004

It's with a heavy heart filled with sadness that I express my sympathy to all who knew of these great people. I am still in shock over this horrific tragedy. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.