Kapil Rajarao Melkote

Kapil Rajarao Melkote, 35, of Bowling Green, Ohio, left us on October 22, 2025. He was a dear father, husband, son, brother, cousin, and friend to countless people, and someone who taught everyone he met how to truly celebrate life. He was larger than life and will be deeply missed.
Kapil was born on December 15, 1989 in Toledo, Ohio. His parents met in Hyderabad, India while acting in a play called Hayavadana, in which Kapil's mother played the love interest, Padmini, and Kapil's father played the hero of the story: Kapila.
He is also the hero of our story.
Malavika and Srinivas, Kapil's parents, immigrated from India to the United States in 1980 and eventually made Bowling Green, Ohio home. They ensured that Kapil and his sister Katya stayed connected to their family and culture in India, where they spent many summers growing up and were beloved by their grandparents and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Kapil made it a priority to actively keep in touch with them throughout his life. Despite the fact that Kapil was often far away from India, he brought it with him everywhere he went. His great pride for Indian culture, history, and values was evident to anyone who knew Kapil.
Kapil's early years were shaped in Bowling Green public schools. It was there that he made an incredible group of lifelong friends and discovered his love, passion, and talent for theater, music, sports, and politics. As was his trademark throughout his life, Kapil excelled in all of these areas, serving as High School Class President, Founder and Captain of the Bowling Green Cricket Club and Quiz Bowl, and headlining numerous theater productions.
When he wasn't leading or founding organizations at BGHS, Kapil spent his time with his friends, also known as The BG Unit. His dance parties were legendary. He wrote, directed, and starred in many (locally) critically acclaimed films, and established himself as someone who was always "on the way" when he was in fact, not.
While Kapil referred to himself as "just a kid from BG" for the rest of his life, his journey carried him to The Ohio State University, where he flourished as an accomplished member of the theater department, a member of the Homecoming Court, and Founder and President of the Collegiate Council on World Affairs (CCWA), which became one of Ohio State's premiere student organizations. Kapil's senior thesis project was an acclaimed performance of the one-man-show "Sakina's Restaurant" which his grandparents traveled from India to proudly attend. To no one's surprise, friendship was central to Kapil's time at Ohio State. In so many ways, Kapil embodied the closing words of Ohio State's alma mater, Carmen Ohio: "Time and change will surely show, how firm thy friendship: Ohio".
After graduation, Kapil's commitment to service, his steadfast belief in public education, and his boundless optimism for a better future led him to join Teach For America in Huntsville, Alabama, where he founded the Butler Theater Project. He then went on to take a role with TFA in Chicago, and it was here that Kapil met the love of his life and his future wife: Lauren.
Kapil and Lauren found in one another true love, partnership, and respect. They married in June 2022 near Lauren's home in Minneapolis, another city that became one of Kapil's many homes, and continued the celebration with a reception in India in the months that followed. Kapil and Lauren shared a passion for exploration and adventure which took them all over the US and the world, including trips to Acadia National Park, the Pacific Northwest, Italy, Mexico, Finland, Tanzania, and of course, many visits to India. They connected over a limitless curiosity that carried their conversations deep into the night, doting on their many nieces and nephews (including his niece Jaya who auspiciously shared the same birthday!), and hosting parties and gatherings for their wide circle of friends. While Kapil was an extrovert through and through, he shared with Lauren a gentler side of himself that came out through, for example, a mutual desire to help animals in need.
The couple moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Lauren studied law at the University of Michigan, and Kapil started a role with Google. Kapil's commitment to bringing people together proved to be so deep that he was able to root for both Michigan and Ohio State, a feat no one else has ever managed to accomplish. Kapil rapidly ascended through the ranks at Google and quickly earned a reputation as a leader, mentor, and dear colleague. Along the way, he earned his MBA from the University of Michigan and was the heart and soul of Ann Arbor's Asian Google Network (AGN).
Kapil and Lauren built an incredible community of friends during their time in Ann Arbor, who stayed close when the couple made the move to Washington, DC in 2020. Kapil and Lauren made D.C. home, and on March 9 of this year, they welcomed their son, Ravi, into this world. Ravi is every bit Kapil's son: a true love bug and a giggly, happy little boy. Much like Kapil, he's never met a stranger. Kapil will live on through Ravi both literally and in spirit.
Kapil loved and enjoyed so many things, and he passed on his passions to everyone who knew him. There are far too many to name, but a small sample includes: movies, Pokémon, ancient mythology, all things Japanese, 90's Nickelodeon shows, beer of all varieties, CrossFit, public transportation, and his beloved United States.
Kapil is survived by his wife, Lauren, his son, Ravi, his grandmother, Dr. Mangutha Rao, his parents, Malavika and Srinivas, and his sister, Katya. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Narsing Rao, M.V. Rajagopal, and Jaya Lakshmi Rajagopal.
Kapil passed away peacefully at the Medstar Washington Hospital Center as he lived: surrounded by his loved ones.
Friends and family are invited to remember and celebrate Kapil's life at Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home 1460 W. Wooster Street, Bowling Green, Ohio.
Visitation: October 31, 2025 from 2-5pm.
Celebration of Life: November 1, 2025 at 10:30 am.
Most of all, Kapil can be memorialized by living as he lived: with endless love, bottomless generosity, and a profound appreciation for life.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
From "On Friendship" by Khalil Gibran
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