Obituary for Krishan Dayal (KD) Srivastava
Krishan Dayal (KD) Srivastava (1931-2021)
Died on October 20th in West Vancouver. Predeceased by wife Gladys, and sons Pal and Shil, he is survived by his son Mohan (Dolly), and daughters Anila (Dave) and Aruna (Bill), by grandchildren Evelyn, Kallie, Shannon, Rae, and Ravi; by many nieces, nephews, extended family in India, and friends.
KD studied electrical engineering in India and Scotland in the 1950s. He met Gladys while studying in Glasgow, marrying her in 1956. They moved to India in 1959 with two small children, returning to England with the twins. The youngest was born in 1961. After some time at the Rutherford High Energy Laboratory in the UK, he later emigrated to Canada with Gladys and their five children in 1966, for KD to work at the University of Waterloo, where he later became Chair of Electrical Engineering. He moved in 1983 to University of British Columbia to become Head of Electrical Engineering, later becoming VP of Student and Academic Services. He also contributed to education and research development in Brazil, Zimbabwe, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, India, and Qatar during his career, founding new programs in Kuwait and founding a new university in Trinidad post-retirement.
He was well-loved by students, respected by colleagues for his knowledge, wisdom, creativitys and commitment, continuing his work long past retirement in 1997. He was also an early supporter of diversity initiatives, particularly focussing on gender and race, a strong champion of students, even becoming a Thunderbirds football fan in his VP role. At home, KD grew attached to the horses and dogs we grew up with and latterly developed a great affection for his own cat, Tuzo. He enjoyed long conversations around the dinner table with his family—he loved good food—accepting the ways we teased him with good humour. He was also a great coiner of words, some of which have entered the family lexicon permanently: like the word “whosh”, a word he invented in a panicked moment while playing Boggle. When challenged on its legitimacy, KD explained that it’s an expression of surprise on learning something new. And thus the Srivastava family adopted this highly useful word.
KD experienced the loss of Gladys and his sons Pal and Shil earlier than many people do or should, and these marked his later years, as busy as he remained. More recently, KD struggled with Alzheimer’s, and recent COVID restrictions were a particular hardship. We would particularly like to thank those who cared for him at Amica Lions Gate. Our last videos show KD smiling as he tossed toys for the dog, all the while keeping up with his physio-cycling. These qualities of determination, humour, wisdom and “whoshness” in a life fully-lived comfort us in the knowledge that our father still has many journeys to make.
There will be a private family cremation. Details for a memorial service will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer Society of Canada .
Died on October 20th in West Vancouver. Predeceased by wife Gladys, and sons Pal and Shil, he is survived by his son Mohan (Dolly), and daughters Anila (Dave) and Aruna (Bill), by grandchildren Evelyn, Kallie, Shannon, Rae, and Ravi; by many nieces, nephews, extended family in India, and friends.
KD studied electrical engineering in India and Scotland in the 1950s. He met Gladys while studying in Glasgow, marrying her in 1956. They moved to India in 1959 with two small children, returning to England with the twins. The youngest was born in 1961. After some time at the Rutherford High Energy Laboratory in the UK, he later emigrated to Canada with Gladys and their five children in 1966, for KD to work at the University of Waterloo, where he later became Chair of Electrical Engineering. He moved in 1983 to University of British Columbia to become Head of Electrical Engineering, later becoming VP of Student and Academic Services. He also contributed to education and research development in Brazil, Zimbabwe, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, India, and Qatar during his career, founding new programs in Kuwait and founding a new university in Trinidad post-retirement.
He was well-loved by students, respected by colleagues for his knowledge, wisdom, creativitys and commitment, continuing his work long past retirement in 1997. He was also an early supporter of diversity initiatives, particularly focussing on gender and race, a strong champion of students, even becoming a Thunderbirds football fan in his VP role. At home, KD grew attached to the horses and dogs we grew up with and latterly developed a great affection for his own cat, Tuzo. He enjoyed long conversations around the dinner table with his family—he loved good food—accepting the ways we teased him with good humour. He was also a great coiner of words, some of which have entered the family lexicon permanently: like the word “whosh”, a word he invented in a panicked moment while playing Boggle. When challenged on its legitimacy, KD explained that it’s an expression of surprise on learning something new. And thus the Srivastava family adopted this highly useful word.
KD experienced the loss of Gladys and his sons Pal and Shil earlier than many people do or should, and these marked his later years, as busy as he remained. More recently, KD struggled with Alzheimer’s, and recent COVID restrictions were a particular hardship. We would particularly like to thank those who cared for him at Amica Lions Gate. Our last videos show KD smiling as he tossed toys for the dog, all the while keeping up with his physio-cycling. These qualities of determination, humour, wisdom and “whoshness” in a life fully-lived comfort us in the knowledge that our father still has many journeys to make.
There will be a private family cremation. Details for a memorial service will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer Society of Canada .