Ganesh Mohanty

1934 - 2023

Ganesh Mohanty
March 11, 1934 - July 20, 2023
Charlotte, North Carolina - Dr. Ganesh Prasad Mohanty, 89, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Our beloved Bapa, Ganesh, Bhai, Mausa, Jeju, Gana, Dada, and friend, Dr. Mohanty was a man of humility and love. He dedicated his life to uplifting others. From classical music to metallurgical science to coffee, Dr. Mohanty brought deep curiosity and intense focus to all that he loved. His unwavering devotion to his wife, Kamla, spanned 53 years.
Ganesh was born on March 11th, 1934, in Cuttack, Orissa, India to Banshidar Mohanty and Uma Devi. Dr. Mohanty traveled to the United States in 1956 to begin a master's program in Metallurgical Engineering at Michigan Tech. Always adventurous, he opted to travel from India by ship instead of by plane to get the full experience of America by arriving via the Statue of Liberty. After completing his Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Dr. Mohanty accepted a job in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Despite offers of professorships at institutions like the University of Southern California and Colorado State, he remained steadfast in his corporate job. Then destiny intervened. Grover Rogers, a dean from Florida State University, flew up to woo Dr. Mohanty down to Tallahassee. His mission: to lay the foundation for the engineering program at FSU. "We are waiting for you, and we need you," Rogers implored. Though his boss and colleagues raised concerns about his safety as the first non-white faculty member or student at the institution, Ganesh decided to embark on a transformative journey. In 1963, driving a turquoise 1963 Chevrolet Impala, he headed south. He ultimately found a warm and welcoming community at Florida State.
Dr. Mohanty returned to India to marry his beloved wife Kamla Patnaik on December 10th, 1969. In 1972, his career took him to the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, where he was a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science for over 42 years. As he liked to tell his students, "If you do your work and find joy in what you do, it will make your journey easier." True to form, he continued to mentor graduate students long after retirement. In recognition of his commitment to teaching, he was awarded the Bonnie E. Cone Distinguished Professorship in 1995, a position held by only five faculty in the university.
One side of Ganesh remained hidden from many: a magician's heart. A member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, he traveled across the US showcasing his MAGIC TRICKS. Years later, his family knew that he was deep in thought if he was shuffling a deck of cards in his hand while listening to classical music.
With his wisdom, kindness, and magical presence, Ganesh was an anchor for many. The family took many forms, both inherited and built. All-night phone calls to India kept long-distance family close. One the first Indian families in Charlotte, the Mohantys were at the heart of an Oriya community that grew to over 1,000 families. His UNCC colleagues became another family, as did his neighbors on Applecross Lane. Kamla and Ganesh were second parents to their children's friends. He is survived by his wife, Kamla; children Dr. Sanjib Mohanty and daughter-in-law, Dr. Kathy Mohanty granddaughters Anna (18) and Mali (15); daughter Pinchy Mohanty Moore and son-in-law Brad Moore and grandson Arch (7); and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
A funeral service was held on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at J.B. Tallent Funeral Service & Crematory, 1937 Sharon Amity Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 at 9 a.m.
A celebration of life will be planned later in the spring. Dr. Mohanty leaves family and friends across the world and many continents who will miss him immeasurably.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ganesh Mohanty Memorial Scholarship Fund at the UNC Charlotte Foundation, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223.
Online donations may be made at https://crowdfund.charlotte.edu/project/38238