Ram Sai Bala M.D.

Dr. Ram Sai Bala, 81, of Oak Brook, IL, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2025, holding the hand of his loving wife, Padmini.
Born in Kottucherry, India in 1944, to Smt Lakshmi and Sri Ramadore Iyer, Dr. Bala pursued his studies in both Tamil and French before obtaining a medical degree from the prestigious Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Pondicherry. He specialized in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and, in 1972, emigrated to the United States, where he completed his internship at Monmouth Hospital in New Jersey, followed by a residency at Long Island Jewish Hospital in New York, and fellowship in Hematopathology at SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse, New York. He began his career at Champlain Valley Physician's Hospital in Plattsburgh, NY - where his two children were born.
In 1980, Dr. Bala moved to Quincy, IL, where he worked at St. Mary's Hospital before relocating to the Chicago area in 1988. He served as a Surgical and Clinical Pathologist at Little Company of Mary Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital until his retirement in 2019. Throughout his career, he served as Director of the Blood Bank and Laboratory Services at several hospitals. As a capstone to his distinguished medical career, he was instrumental in opening the Department of Pathology at the Sri Sathya Sai Superspecialty Hospital in Puttaparthi, India. From 1991 to 2019, he spent his vacations volunteering his free time to provide medical services for patients and advance the capabilities of the department.
To say that Dr. Bala loved music would scarcely capture the depth of his devotion. For him, music was both a pathway to the Divine and the love language of his faith in God. Through devotional singing he became an instrument who helped inspire and bring others closer to the Lord. He used his voice to help mark milestones, bring solace in sorrow, and infuse everyday life with blissful and calming energy. In collaboration with several Sai devotees, he published multiple editions of Sai Devotional Songs, a seminal compilation that grew to over 1500 devotional songs in multiple languages. He also led workshops across the U.S., Canada, and India, teaching and inspiring others in the path of devotional singing, encouraging them to understand the meaning of the prayers they sang, and to cultivate faith as a bridge to the Lord. This union of his deep devotion to God with his unrelenting service to his fellow man will be his enduring legacy.
Dr. Bala's earthly journey was defined by devotion and service - to God, family, and the wider community. Even as his passing leaves a void in the hearts of those who loved him, his family invites everyone to honor his memory by continuing his legacy of spiritual strength, compassion, and selfless service. We ask that you remember him not for the life that ended, but for the way he lived it and the profound impact he had on the lives of everyone who knew him.
Dr. Bala is survived by his devoted wife, Padmini; his daughter, Yamini; his son Prashanth (Vanita); and his two treasured grandchildren, Shalini and Siddhartha. He is also remembered dearly by his beloved siblings, Uma (Srinivasan), Bhaskar (Usha), Mani (Hema), Asha (TVS), Raghu (Rama) and his cherished nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Feed My Starving Children (https://www.feedingamerica.org). They also invite everyone to share their memories of Dr. Bala, whether photos, videos, audio recordings, or written recollections, by uploading them here: https://www.dropbox.com/request/7GcAAxQ8j5OssAgMUDnn
Though Dr. Bala's earthly journey has come to a close, his spirit continues to uplift and inspire. May his memory be a blessing and give us comfort, and may we carry forth his radiant example of devotion to God and service to others. Let the light of his legacy continue to shine bright in all of us.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 17, 2025 7:00 a.m. until time of prayer service 9:00 a.m. at Hursen Funeral Home, 4001 Roosevelt Rd, Hillside, Illinois. (SW corner of Roosevelt & Mannheim Roads)
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A Memorial Bhajan will follow on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, commencing at 6:30 p.m., at Sai Spiritual Community Center, 70 Golfview Dr. Northlake, Illinois.