Prem Kishor Saint PhD

In Loving Memory of

Prem Kishor Saint, PhD

December 25, 1934 – November 24, 2025

Dr. Prem Kishor Saint, Professor Emeritus of Geological and Environmental Sciences, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home surrounded by family in Laguna Niguel, California, at the age of 90.

Born in Peshawar, India, Prem's journey took him from India to Kenya in 1949 and eventually to the United States, where he earned advanced degrees at the University of London and the University of Minnesota. In 1972 he joined the faculty at California State University, Fullerton, where he taught for 32 years, founded the Hydrology Program, and led the beloved summer hydrology field camp in Mammoth Lakes. Students remember him rising before dawn to cook a hearty breakfast, always the first one up the mountain, arranging special fireside chats with Dave McCoy, the legendary founder of Mammoth Mountain, and effortlessly bringing the Eastern Sierra's geology and hydrology to life.

Beyond the campus, Prem lived with joyful energy and a lasting sense of wonder. A lifelong child at heart, he loved parks, playgrounds, (especially Disneyland) and all things nature and would whisk family members and visitors alike to these places along with Mount Baldy, Grand Canyon and Yosemite, to share the quiet magic he found in forests, rivers, and mountain air.

He treasured family trips across Europe, long hikes, e-bike rides, sunsets, tide pools, and explaining with enthusiasm how rocks and glaciers shaped the world around them. He devoured books on history, philosophy, spirituality, religion, fiction and hydrology-and always saved room to enjoy a sweet treat.

Prem's greatest joy was his family. When Mona and Shaila were teens, he filled the VW bus with Shaila and her giggling friends for midnight toilet-papering adventures and drove Mona and friends to the slopes when fresh powder fell, filled with joy

In later years, he loved hours of playing Splendor, Rummikub, ninety-nine, and other games with his family, always smiling and saying, "Just one more game."

With his grandchildren, he loved, laughed, and played with boundless delight. Many of the grandchildren's most treasured memories are of those adventures together with their Nanaji/Grandpa PK-hiking, climbing trees, biking, getting lost in nature, watching sunsets and Christmas lights, and fully savoring in the present moment.

He loved attending the grandchildren's matches, plays, performances, and especially graduations, because education meant so much to him and he believed deeply in encouraging their dreams.

A lifelong tennis/table-tennis player and yoga practitioner, he patiently passed on these practices to his children-who later traded their tennis racquets for pickleball paddles and embraced the competitive spirit he never quite shared. After doubles matches at Carbon Canyon Park, he would smile and say, "It doesn't matter who won; it's such a lovely morning!"

He also loved swimming, and swam as often as he could, with a final joyful swim with his family at his beloved Laguna Niguel community pool in September of this year.

In 2023 Prem published his memoir, Wading in the River of Time, celebrated with a book signing near the CSUF campus. The book reflects the gratitude, curiosity, and purpose that shaped his life through 4 continents.

He was the quintessential lifelong learner.

Prem is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Raksha (Riki); his children and their spouses-Sanjay and Veronica Saint (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Shaila Saint and Rob Ragland (Long Beach, California), and Mona Saint and Gerry Goldstein (Laguna Niguel, California), seven cherished grandchildren and a large extended family.

Students, colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family all say the same thing: Prem changed their lives. With kindness, patience, and love, he had a rare gift for seeing the best in people and guiding them gently toward their greatest selves. He listened deeply, offered wise counsel with a smile, and shared knowledge with humility and encouragement.

Family, friends, colleagues, and generations of students will remember him for his warmth, generosity, curiosity, and irrepressible joy. His gentle and caring presence touched countless lives.

Prem lived fully and departed peacefully.

Donations:

It was his long-held wish to see the Prem K. Saint Hydrology Award fully endowed, ensuring that future generations of students could pursue the education he cherished at his beloved CSUF.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the

Prem K. Saint Award Endowment Fund

Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences

California State University, Fullerton

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