Hanumant Patil
April 9, 1934-Nov. 19, 2016
Los Altos, California

Los Altos resident Hanumant Patil passed away on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Stanford University Hospital surrounded by his wife, son and daughter-in-law, extended family members and friends. He leaves behind several siblings in India.

After getting his master's of science degree in India, he came to the U.S. to pursue his graduate studies and received a Doctorate in Physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. After teaching stints at Cornell and MIT, he joined Hewlett-Packard in Palo Alto where he spent the next 22 years, retiring in the mid-90s.

He and his family spent several years in Colorado Springs where he was assigned to improve the electron optics of cathode ray tubes at Hewlett-Packard’s division there. It was one of the highest accolades that one could get in the lab -- a transfer, with his product, to production. It was a very productive time for Hanumant. Those who worked with him remember him as an incredibly bright scientist and express enormous respect for his kindness, intelligence and competence as an engineer and physicist. Family and friends always mention his warmth and compassion towards all who knew him.

He loved his new country but cherished the memories of the small village in South India where he was born. His passion became to give back to the community where he came from and to provide opportunities to others less fortunate, particularly in education, environment, and to women. In that process, he became a revered figure in his family -- a mentor and role model to numerous young family members.

He supported several activists and non-governmental organizations both here in Silicon Valley and in India. He was a long-time member of Indians for Collective Action, a Bay Area non-profit that supports innovative strategies for social change, serving as its president in the early 90s. He felt deeply about improving the conditions of the underrepresented and the disadvantaged and over the last three decades his commitment improved the lives of others in many ways.

Listening to classical music, travel and fitness were his great pastimes. His love of hiking began while in Colorado Springs, where he once even hiked up Pikes Peak Mountain with a friend.

He led a life by example and inspired and encouraged everyone around him. He will be missed dearly and remembered with great affection by all.

Tags: business, public service