Candadai Seshachari
1928 - 2015
Candadai Seshachari, "Sesh", 87 years, passed away October 6, 2015. He was born in the holy city of Kanchipuram, India to Govindachari and Rajalakshmi Candadai in 1928.
Sesh came to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship in the 1960's to earn his Ph.D. at the University of Utah. He married Neila Idgunji Mavinkurve in 1969 and returned to the USA with her and daughters Roopa and Priya to teach English at Weber State College. An admirer of Gandhi, Sesh wrote a book on Gandhi and the American Scene as his Ph.D. dissertation.
One of Weber State's most popular professors of English, he also served as Chairman of the English Department and as the acting Dean. With his helpful actions and guidance, he fostered the academic development of so many students. Along with his wife Neila, he was a consummate fundraiser and sponsored the arts in many ways. As President of the Ogden Symphony and Ballet Association, he and Neila engaged in fundraising dinners for the symphony at their home. He was an active member of academic circles as well as Ogden's vibrant Indian community, a great source of love and support to him.
Sesh and Neila worked tirelessly to pass the RAMP tax in Ogden to benefit recreation, arts, museums and parks for their community. He used to joke that he got people to vote for a tax increase! When his wife tragically died in 2002, he continued to work for this cause and worked on the board until just a few years ago. Two years ago, he received the Lifetime Contribution to the Arts Award from the Mayor of Ogden. We remember him for his great example of love, patience, scholarship and stewardship of the next generation. We love Sesh for his generosity of spirit, his wicked sense of wit and his magnanimous love for family and community.
He is survived by daughters Roopa Hashimoto (Edward, children Daniel, Michael, and Katherine), Priya Sanger (Mick) and Ranjit Mavinkurve (Smita Kasargod, children Ria and Lara), grandchildren Daniel Hashimoto (Mandy Richardville, children James and Sophia), Michael Hashimoto (Yuan-Yuan, children Sarah and Emma) and Katherine Hashimoto Roehner (Nic).
A memorial reception will be held on Friday, October 9, 2015 from 5-7pm at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, UT. Online condolences at www.larkincares.com.
