Ramesh R. Patel

We honor the life of Ramesh Patel, a man whose kindness and humility touched all who knew him. Ramesh was born in February 1938 in Mohelel, Gujarat, India. He went to school in Nadiad, Gujarat, India. He loved his village, Mohelel and he often returned to visit.

Ramesh married Saroj on December 7, 1964 in India. In 1966, Ramesh left India for London, England. Saroj was in Uganda, Africa with her family, and in 1967, she gave birth to their first son, Nish. In 1968, Saroj and Nishith joined Ramesh in London. They moved to Pennsylvania in 1969. Saroj gave birth to their second son, Kinjal in 1971. The family moved to Maryland in 1972. And in 1984, Ramesh finished designing and building the house on Claude Lane. In 1994, Nishith married Heather. They have two sons, Kirin and Deven. In 1999, Kinjal married Victoria. They have three children, Anna, Zachary, and Nicolas. Ramesh spent a lot of time with his grandchildren and he was beloved by all five of them.

As a structural engineer, Ramesh's work left an indelible mark on many communities. He contributed to projects that helped shape the world around him from the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Beltsville, the Vraj Temple in Pennsylvania, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robinsonville, New Jersey, BWI Airport, Fort Totten Metro Station, many bridges along the 95 corridor, and the Silver Line.

Ramesh was a humble man, always seeking to make a difference, not through grand gestures, but through simple acts of care and concern for others. His love for his village, Mohelel, Gujarat was unwavering and he deeply believed in the importance of education for the children there. His connection to his village remained strong through his life and he worked tirelessly to help ensure the future of the next generation.

As we reflect on Ramesh's life, we can also think of the many families, who like his, have made this country their home and who continue to contribute in countless ways to the fabric of our society. His legacy is part of that greater story of hope and perseverance.

To honor Ramesh's memory, the family asks that instead of flowers, donations are made to the school in Mohelel. Checks can be made payable to Saroj Patel who will go to Mohelel to make the donation.