Nirmal Kumar Mishra

Dr. Nirmal Kumar Mishra, a dedicated educator, researcher, and advocate for academic excellence, passed away on February 13, 2025, in Northridge, California, at the age of 93.

Born on September 4, 1931, in Jabalpur, India, Dr. Mishra's early years were marked by a passion for learning. He attended Model High School in Jabalpur. He earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Jabalpur Engineering College in 1954. His pursuit of higher education led him to the United States, where he obtained a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from New York University in 1962 and a Ph.D. from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1970.

Dr. Mishra's journey to the United States was driven by his vision of building a future for his family. After marrying Pratima Gupta in 1958, he set his sights on emigrating to America. In 1959, he arrived in the U.S. to begin his studies at NYU while working at Phillips Engineering. To secure a sponsored pathway for permanent residency, he and Pratima moved to Eindhoven, Holland, in 1960 before returning to Brooklyn, New York, in 1962. A year later, Pratima and their son Dev joined him as they began their life together in the United States.

His career spanned both research and academia. In Oak Park, Illinois, he served as director of the pulmonary physiology lab at Cook County Medical Center before moving to Arcadia, California, in 1975 to continue research at City of Hope Medical Center. Ultimately drawn to teaching and mentorship, Dr. Mishra transitioned into academia with lectureship positions at the California Institute of Technology before accepting a professorship at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). As a professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science with a focus on biomedical engineering, he found great fulfillment in guiding students toward success. He was particularly passionate about supporting underrepresented students and faculty members and established a scholarship upon retirement to aid minority students within the department.

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Mishra was known for his kindness and thoughtfulness. He believed deeply in personal and societal freedoms and carried himself with an open-minded and non-judgmental spirit that endeared him to those around him. Always ready with a smile, he left an indelible mark on colleagues, students, friends, and family.

Dr. Mishra is survived by his beloved wife of more than six decades, Pratima Mishra; his son Dev Mishra and daughter-in-law Cathy Mishra; grandson Alec Mishra and his wife Celia Mishra; and grandson William Mishra. He was predeceased by his five older brothers but leaves behind more than forty nieces and nephews who continue to cherish his memory.

Dr. Nirmal Kumar Mishra's legacy lives on through the many lives he touched-his family who loved him dearly; the students he mentored; and the countless individuals who benefited from his generosity of spirit and unwavering belief in education as a force for good.