Sivakumar Virinchipuram

When one thinks about Sivakumar the first thoughts that come to mind are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional "old school" morals, Sivakumar was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about.

His parents were Virinchipuram Gopal Shastry Ramachandran and Saraswati Ramachandran. Sivakumar was raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Having lost his father at a very early age, he was raised by his elder brother, Lakshminarayanan and sister-in-law Shyamala along with his other brothers Nagarajan, Gopal and Balasubramanium and sisters Kamala and Lakshmi. He came from a close knit family and remained deeply attached to his brothers and his extended family till his very end.

Sivakumar attended D. Kellet High School in Chennai. He completed his bachelor's degree in Mathematics from New College and later on went on to become a Charted Accountant. He was Chief Manager with Bank of Baroda. He was employed for 31 years. Being a hard worker who was praised for his efficiency, Sivakumar was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Sivakumar was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Sivakumar upheld his standards.

On August 23, 1974 Sivakumar exchanged wedding vows with Murukuthanpundi Ranganathan Balambika at the Shuba Kalyan Mandapam Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Sivakumar was blessed with 3 children; two daughters Gayathri and Swetha and one son, Ananth. They were also blessed with 2 grand daughters, Sowmya and Shivani. A wonderful father, Sivakumar believed in giving his children the right to choose their path. He was very supportive of all their endeavors and was very proud of their achievements. One of Sivakumar's most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Faith was important to Sivakumar. He loved attending and performing rituals. As a young man he spent time learning the Vedas and other hindu scriptures. Though a devout Hindu, he also had knowledge of other religions.

Sivakumar was a wonderful cook who loved to cook for his near and dear ones. He is well remembered by people for his warmth and hospitality. He was a gracious host who loved to entertain guests. His other favorite pursuit was gardening. He spent many hours working on his garden. He had a fascination with growing vegetables and fruits and sharing it with his family, friends and neighbors.

Sivakumar passed away on September 25, 2011 at Stanford Medical Hospital. He is survived by his wife Balambika Sivakumar, his children Gayathri, Swetha and Ananth and his brothers Lakshminarayanan and Balasubramanium.

All who knew him would agree that Sivakumar was a wonderful man who was kept himself busy. He was known for his positive thinking, can-do-attitude, time management skills and ability to remain positive despite his health conditions. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and actions, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Sivakumar Virinchipuram did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.