Geetha Ramachandran

1949 - 2016

Geetha Ramachandran, Professor Emerita of CSUS, went to heaven on February 18th. Her husband of 41 years, Doraiswamy (Chandra) Ramachandran, was at her side. She was the second of four children born to A. S. Krishnan and Saraswathy Krishnan of Madras, India. Was "First class First" in B.Sc. Statistics as a teenager in 1966, and was the debate champion of Presidency College, an honor earlier achieved by former Indian President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. Entered the Indian Statistical Institute graduate program, where she met her husband and lifelong colleague. Obtained her Ph.D. in Statistics and was visiting faculty member in University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and University of the Philippines, then moved to the United States in 1980, accompanying her husband when he joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. She was on faculty at Rutgers University; Rider College in Princeton; Elon College, NC; and University of Georgia at Athens, before coming to California in 1983. After visiting UC Davis Division of Statistics for one year, she embarked on her applied statistics career at CSU Sacramento from 1984 till her retirement in January 2015. During this time, she was a pioneer in teaching and statistical research, preparing a generation of students for statistical careers in academia and with state agencies. Was consultant to numerous state agencies including State Controller's office, Office of Auditor General, and Department of Health, saving millions of dollars for California taxpayers with her expertise. Was a role model as a woman scientist for many students including her two daughters, Rageshree Ramachandran (Joel Moore) and Sohini Ramachandran (Jeremy Mumford). Survived by her husband, daughters, sons-in-law, granddaughters Irene Moore and Anarkali Mumford, her mother, sisters Jayalakshmi Subramanian and Radha Ramachandran of Madras, and their families. Predeceased by her father and her brother, Raghupathi. Her joys were promoting Indian culture in the Sacramento area through the performing arts, world travel, reading, long walks, and teaching mathematics and reading to her grandchildren. The public memorial service is on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Mount Vernon Sanctuary, Greenback Lane.