Komaluru Visvanathan

Obituary of Komaluru Radhakrishna Visvanathan

September 3, 1929 – Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
September 16, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta 

Dr. K. R. (Vishy) Visvanathan passed away in Calgary on September 16.   

Born September 3, 1929 in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India, he was the second of eight children.  He graduated from medical school in Madras in 1954.  He immigrated to the United Kingdom to pursue further surgical training.  Vishy was proud to have attained Fellowship in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the Royal College of Surgeons of England, both in 1966.

Vishy and Margaret met in Burnley, Lancashire in 1955.  He told the story of seeing a young nurse in the operating room and being smitten by “a pair of beautiful blue eyes above a surgical mask.” They were married on November 20, 1959.  His medical training took them to several cities in England and Scotland.  Their three sons were born in England.  After immigrating to Canada in 1967, he established a medical practice in Estevan, Saskatchewan.  Soon after that, he achieved his Fellowship in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.   He had a busy general practice and surgical practice until retirement in 1994.  

He was proud to be a Canadian citizen and often said “Canada has been very good to me.”  His dedication to his patients made him much loved and respected in the community.  Many patients became close friends.  A much-sought-after invitation for those friends was to attend one of Vishy’s basement slideshows.  In a time before the internet, digital cameras, and commonplace international travel, a narrated travelogue of adventures in India was fascinating and exotic.  While he enjoyed sharing the culture of his homeland, he wholeheartedly embraced the customs of his adopted home.  He and a group of close friends enjoyed an annual fly-in fishing trip at Wollaston Lake in northern Saskatchewan.  He purchased a motorhome and took his family on many trips exploring North America.  

Vishy lived the Rotary motto “Service Above Self.”  He served as President of Estevan Rotary Club and DDGM of the Masonic Lodge.  He was particularly proud to serve as President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan in 1980.  

Vishy and Margaret moved to Calgary in 1995.  This allowed him to further pursue his interests in photography, gardening, golf, and Indian classical music.   While in Estevan, his photography hobby led him to build his own darkroom, where he developed and printed his own pictures.  During retirement, he became interested in digital photography.  Ever curious and eager to learn new things, he embraced the new technology and edited his photographs digitally.   

Vishy and Margaret enjoyed travel, including bus tours and cruises to many continents.  He was proud to introduce his family, including grandchildren, to his homeland with several family trips to India.  The Canadian branch of the Visvanathan family enjoyed getting to know many uncles, aunts and cousins on these trips.  

Very important to both of them was the community they joined at the Calgary Crowfoot YMCA.  Far beyond the fitness activities they enjoyed, their gregarious nature led to lasting friendships with many at the Y.  

In retirement, Vishy and Margaret spent many happy winters in Citrus Gardens, Mesa, Arizona.  As was their custom wherever they were, they formed a circle of close friends in the snowbird community. 

His face lit up whenever he was with or spoke about his grandchildren.  Vishy kept close track of each one’s pursuits and progress.   He embraced their partners whole-heartedly into our family.

This kind and generous man will be remembered for his ready smile, warm heart, wisdom and love for his family. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Margaret, sons, Kishore (Janice), Raman, and Nandha (Shari); and grandchildren, Derek (Athanasia), Ashley, Nisha (Mitchell), Hannah, Brittney, Kyle (Felicity), Dean (Terava), Neil, and Noah.  He is also survived by brothers, Ramanujan, Anandha and Babu; sister Shyamala; and their families.  He was predeceased by his parents K.V. Radhakrishna and Mahalakshmi; brothers Pandurangan and Sarathy; and sister Prema. 

A Private Family Service will be held. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

Special thanks to the wonderful staff on Ward 43, Peter Lougheed Centre, and particular gratitude to Dr. Stephen Field.  If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Doctors without Borders (donate.msf.ca).

In living memory of Vishy Visvanathan, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area.
 



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