Gopal Ramanathan

Dr. Gopal Ramanathan, 78, died at SIMS Hospital in Chennai, India on Saturday, May 1, following a three-week battle with COVID-19.

Gopal—one of eight siblings—was born near Chennai on June 7, 1942, to Gopal Iyer and Meenaksai. Following the completion of his undergraduate studies at St. Joseph’s College in India, he earned Master’s degrees in Computer Science and Physics from the University of Calgary and Stony Brook University, as well as a Ph.D. in Physics from the Polytechnic Institute of New York. He pursued his education while working various jobs to support himself, including as a janitor, a bus driver, and a New York City cab driver.

Gopal became a sought-after cybersecurity and information assurance consultant for the U.S. Air Force at Hanscom Air Force Base. He worked for a variety of companies throughout his career including Booz Allen Hamilton, the MITRE Corporation, and Draper Laboratory. Prior to his defense work, he worked briefly as a professor of physics at the University of Bridgeport. During his retirement, he served as an advisor to SRM University in Chennai.

Ever gregarious and generous, Gopal had friends all over the world. He loved traveling and meeting new people, and went out of his way to help those in need. Gopal was also a talented Indian cook, an avid runner and bicycler, and a loving father.

Gopal is survived by his children, Ravi Ramanathan and his husband Matthew Klebanoff, and Priya Ramanathan and her fiancé Justin Fisher. He also leaves behind family and friends from multiple continents who loved him dearly.

Private Hindu cremation services were held in India for the family on Saturday, May 1, 2021.