Dr. Jegadhabi N. Ramaswamy 

1931 – 2026

Dr. Jegadhabi N. Ramaswamy passed away peacefully on May 27, 2026, in Naperville, Illinois, at the age of 94. Born in 1931 in Karur, India, he lived a life defined by intellect, service, and a deep devotion to family and culture — a life that touched two continents and left lasting marks on each.

From his earliest years, Dr. Ramaswamy was a student of extraordinary promise. He graduated first in his class at Karur High School, an early indication of the discipline and curiosity that would carry him through every chapter of his life. He went on to earn both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Civil Engineering from the renowned Guindy Engineering College in Madras, before crossing the ocean to pursue a doctorate in Environmental Sciences at the University of West Virginia, which he completed in 1970. For a young man from a small town in Tamil Nadu, this journey was nothing short of remarkable — and it was undertaken with characteristic humility and resolve.

Dr. Ramaswamy devoted his professional life to the field of wastewater treatment, a quiet but vital discipline that protects the health of communities and the integrity of our natural world. He was instrumental in designing the wastewater treatment facility in Detroit, Michigan, and later served the State of Florida, where he designed and maintained treatment facilities that continue to serve the public good. His work was the kind that rarely makes headlines but improves countless lives — clean water, healthier communities, and a more sustainable future were the quiet legacies of his career.

He was also, at heart, a teacher. He shared his knowledge with generations of students at PSG College of Engineering, Guindy Engineering College, and Florida State University, mentoring young engineers with the same patience and rigor that had shaped his own path. Over the course of his career, he received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his contributions to the field, though those who knew him best will remember that he wore each distinction lightly.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Ramaswamy was a devoted scholar of Tamil literature. He found particular joy in the Thirukural, the ancient Tamil classic of ethics and wisdom, and dedicated himself to translating its timeless verses into English so that its insights might reach new generations and new audiences. His published translations stand as a labor of love — a bridge between the language of his birth and the world he had come to call home.

Yet for all his learning and achievement, Dr. Ramaswamy's greatest pride was his family. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, and an extraordinary grandfather and great-grandfather. He delighted in the company of his grandchildren, taking immense joy in their growth and playing an instrumental role in shaping them into thoughtful, capable, productive young citizens. To his family, he was a steady presence — gentle, wise, principled, and endlessly generous with his time and counsel.

He is survived by his beloved wife, his two children, his three grandchildren, and his two great-grandchildren, all of whom carry forward the values he embodied: integrity, curiosity, service, and love.

A life as full as his is not so much ended as it is woven into the lives of those he loved and the communities he served. In the words of the Thirukural he so cherished, "The good deeds of the worthy are remembered through generations." So too will he be remembered.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Dr. Ramaswamy's visitation will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. Puja to directly begin after the visitation and Eulogies, beginning at 12:00 p.m. Cremation Ceremony will conclude his funeral services.  A repast will be held at the Holiday Inn & Suites 205 Remington Blvd, Bolingbrook, IL. 60440.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home & Crematorium.