Sunder Singh Sodhi

Sunder Singh Sodhi was born in December 1940 in Patiala, India to a business family. He was raised there, had a great childhood with a close-knit family, and had close friendships with the Chopra Family, Kampani Family, and others, having lost his father at age 4. This experience helped focus his efforts on self-reliance and independence to pursue a good education and focus on his career, a trait that remained with him throughout his life.
He came to the US in 1962 with his closest friend from back home, Kailash Nath Chopra (not knowing anyone or having any family here) to pursue an education in Engineering from Howard University in Washington, DC and a Master's Degree from Catholic University. On his own from age 22 and not returning to see family till 8 years later, he became a part of the brotherhood of Indian students studying here, putting himself through college by working on weekends and attending classes weekdays. He turned to India after graduating from college to marry his wife Asha the daughter of a University Professor, with whom he had a son and a daughter, Navik Singh and Karuna Sodhi.
Graduating in 1970, he worked for well-known companies such as the Singer Corporation and Bendix which helped him land a position in the Washington, DC government in 1978, leading energy conservation programs.
This experience then led him to a career in the Federal Government as an Energy and Environmental Engineer with the US Navy, based at the Navy Yard in DC, starting in 1981, which he always felt was a turning point for his life, both professionally and personally. Skills gained during this time enabled him to work as a civilian DOD employee with the US Army in Germany in the 1985-1989 and with the US Marines and US Air Force in Okinawa, Japan from 1992 to 2001. He was known for refining, leading, and mastering the various programs he led.
He retired from the US Government in 2010 after completing 32 years of service and enjoyed an active retirement with extensive travel in India and the US.
He took an active role in his children's education, sending them to India for school to keep them in touch with their Indian heritage and culture.
Mr. Sodhi faced personal struggles with courage and grace as well. His son Navik was born 2 months prematurely and had to stay in the hospital. He lost his wife tragically to cancer and became a widower at age 61. Charged with helping his children who were still completing college, he tackled this tragedy with his strong religious beliefs and self-reliance.
Mr. Sodhi was a man of great religious faith and, from an early age, attended Gurudwara and Hindu Temple. He travelled extensively in India and had stayed many times at the Sai Baba Ashram in Puttaparthi India, before and after retirement. He visited other religious sites such as Tirupathi, Meenakshi Temple and Guruviyar in South India.
He maintained close friendships with relatives, friends and others both in India and in the DC area long after retirement, including friends he had worked with at the Navy Yard in DC and Germany as well as from his travels in India. He was active in guiding and helping people whenever possible and took great pride in this.
Sunder S. Sodhi derived great joy in seeing his children start and grow in professional careers in government consulting and medicine. He was also happy to see them flourish with their own families and children, regularly visiting them on holidays and religious occasions.
He is survived by his daughter Karuna Sodhi Pandya, son-in-law Nikul Pandya, and their daughters Layna and Kiara. He is survived by his son Dr. Navik Sodhi, daughter-in-law Ankur Sodhi and granddaughter Parnika Sodhi.
He leaves behind brothers-in-law Professor Satpal Taneja and Mr. Chaman Lal, and his wife's two brothers Arun and Anil Vasudeva
Hindu rituals will take place on Monday June 16, 2025 at 1pm at Loudoun Funeral Chapel, 158 Catoctin Cir. SE, Leesburg, VA 20175.