Sundaresan Gobalakrishnan, 58, passed away peacefully at his Glen Allen, VA, home on December 6, 2023. While his departure was unexpected for his loved ones, he lived a full life, always looking ahead with optimism.
He was born in Cuddalore, India, to his father, Gobalakrishnan, and his mother, Rajamani. His middle, high school, and undergraduate years were spent in Ooty, India, where his family lived.
He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Bharathiyar University. He obtained a Ph.D. in Physiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. As a research scholar, he traveled to Antarctica twice, once for 4 months and another for 16 months. He was a member of the 14th and 15th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. He conducted experiments on 'Interaction of Opioids and Altered Photoperiod Stress in Modulation of Immune Response in Antarctic Conditions.'
Sundaresan was an Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine, Radiology and Co-Director of the Bioimaging and Applied Research Core at Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, Virginia. Previously, Sundaresan was a Principal Scientist at GlaxoSmithKline R&D Center in Philadelphia, PA. Sundaresan came to the United States of America to work as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles, and later worked as a Research Scientist at UCLA and Stanford University. He has published around 100 scientific publications with over 13,000 citations.
With his beloved wife Shanthi and son Guhan, Sundaresan built a life in the USA for over 23 years, spending about 15 years in Richmond, VA. Sundaresan was a person with wide-ranging interests and many exceptional talents. His deep understanding of multiple scientific disciplines was unparalleled. He could engage in discussions on any subject. His interest in aerospace is exemplified by his traveling to the Kennedy Space Center to watch the final space shuttle liftoff in July 2011. He was a master in the kitchen and at the grill; he liked gardening and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed traveling and fishing. He loved listening to music and enjoyed spending time with friends and family.
More importantly, Sundaresan was effortlessly kind, youthful, fun, grounded, and genuine. His intelligence and personal achievements never changed him, as he carried a fresh authenticity throughout his life, making him welcoming and relatable to anyone. He cherished his Tamil roots without adhering to cultural norms or expectations that didn't align with his values. He was also very open-minded and inclusive. He was a deep thinker, passionate in his interests, meticulous with his approach, and known for being a great planner. He was a loving husband, father, brother, and friend. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.
Sundaresan is preceded in death by his father Gobalakrishnan, mother Rajamani, and sister Shanthi Chandrasekar. Sundaresan is survived by his dear wife Shanthi, and his loving son Guhan, who were his pride and joy. He also leaves behind his brothers Rajavelu and Vasudevan, his nieces and nephews.
His final rights will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023 at 8:00 AM, at Commonwealth Funeral Service at 5404 Glen Alden Drive,
Henrico, VA 23231
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Richmond.
Sundaresan Gobalakrishnan, 58, passed away peacefully at his Glen Allen, VA, home on December 6, 2023. While his departure was unexpected for his loved ones, he lived a full life, always looking ahead with optimism.
He was born in Cuddalore, India, to his father, Gobalakrishnan, and his mother, Rajamani. His middle, high school, and undergraduate years were spent in Ooty, India, where his family lived.
He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Bharathiyar University. He obtained a Ph.D. in Physiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. As a research scholar, he traveled to Antarctica twice, once for 4 months and another for 16 months. He was a member of the 14th and 15th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. He conducted experiments on 'Interaction of Opioids and Altered Photoperiod Stress in Modulation of Immune Response in Antarctic Conditions.'
Sundaresan was an Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine, Radiology and Co-Director of the Bioimaging and Applied Research Core at Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, Virginia. Previously, Sundaresan was a Principal Scientist at GlaxoSmithKline R&D Center in Philadelphia, PA. Sundaresan came to the United States of America to work as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles, and later worked as a Research Scientist at UCLA and Stanford University. He has published around 100 scientific publications with over 13,000 citations.
With his beloved wife Shanthi and son Guhan, Sundaresan built a life in the USA for over 23 years, spending about 15 years in Richmond, VA. Sundaresan was a person with wide-ranging interests and many exceptional talents. His deep understanding of multiple scientific disciplines was unparalleled. He could engage in discussions on any subject. His interest in aerospace is exemplified by his traveling to the Kennedy Space Center to watch the final space shuttle liftoff in July 2011. He was a master in the kitchen and at the grill; he liked gardening and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed traveling and fishing. He loved listening to music and enjoyed spending time with friends and family.
More importantly, Sundaresan was effortlessly kind, youthful, fun, grounded, and genuine. His intelligence and personal achievements never changed him, as he carried a fresh authenticity throughout his life, making him welcoming and relatable to anyone. He cherished his Tamil roots without adhering to cultural norms or expectations that didn't align with his values. He was also very open-minded and inclusive. He was a deep thinker, passionate in his interests, meticulous with his approach, and known for being a great planner. He was a loving husband, father, brother, and friend. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.
Sundaresan is preceded in death by his father Gobalakrishnan, mother Rajamani, and sister Shanthi Chandrasekar. Sundaresan is survived by his dear wife Shanthi, and his loving son Guhan, who were his pride and joy. He also leaves behind his brothers Rajavelu and Vasudevan, his nieces and nephews.
His final rights will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023 at 8:00 AM, at Commonwealth Funeral Service at 5404 Glen Alden Drive,
Henrico, VA 23231
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Richmond.