Nirmal Kumar Obituary (1941 - 2007)

Nirmal Kumar, beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away in Salt Lake City from health complications on Saturday March 31st 2007. He was surrounded by his loved ones, to whom he committed a life of courage, hard work, and self-sacrifice. Nirmal was born April 14, 1941, to Shyam Sunder and Leelawati Vanjani in Quetta, India. He was the oldest of 8 children raised in a devout Hindu household. A diligent student, Nirmal graduated in the top ten percent of his class at the Regional Institute of Technology in Jamshedpur, India, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering in 1964. He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Engineering Administration from the University of Utah in 1989. Nirmal was happily married to his devoted wife, Leela, for 37 years. They have two children, Leena (Brian) Warren and Naresh, with whom he shared his hobbies of tennis, photography, and stamp collecting. Proud of his homeland, but wanting to seek a better life for his family, Nirmal traveled to the United States for the first time in 1975. He lived in New York and Chicago working odd jobs while trying to obtain a good career before the arrival of his wife and daughter who joined him one year later. As a longtime member of the Hindu community in Utah, Nirmal contributed his skills, resources, and time to help make it what it is today. Distinguished in his career, Nirmal dedicated much to his profession as an ME3 level mechanical engineer. He became an established gear expert and his colleagues frequently sought the assistance that he would always be willing to provide. He greatly enjoyed working with his friends at WesTech Engineering. We would like to thank those who helped Nirmal and our family during his fight with cancer. He was preceded in death by his mother and sister Meera. He is survived by his father, wife, children, and relatives in India and the United States. His strength, kindness, and humility will always be remembered. Nirmal was also very charitable, and to honor this, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers. Namaste. Private family services were held April 2, 2007.