Dr. Narayana Rao Kosuri, born February 23, 1936, passed away at home with his wife and children on December 19, 2020, after an 18 month battle with cancer. He was the oldest of five sons (Murali, Jaya (deceased), Gandhi, and Hari (deceased)) born to Veeraswamy Naidu and Damayanti Kosuri in Guraja, India. He emigrated to the United States in 1962 as a graduate student – first to Manhattan, Kansas, then to Chicago, Illinois; Madison, Wisconsin; Des Moines, Iowa; and Kansas City, Missouri before making his home St. Louis, Missouri where he practiced medicine as a psychiatrist for 35 years with the Missouri State and BJC health systems. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lalitha, and their two children, Praveen (Sarah Paoletti) and Kavitha (Amit Doshi), four grandchildren (Kriya, Kethan, Mira, and Nikhil), his brothers Murali and Gandhi, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Rao was born in a two-room house with no electricity and no running water in a rural village in India. He was the first in his family to immigrate to the United States. He came as a doctor of veterinary medicine but went on to earn a master of science, a PhD. in pharmacology, and ultimately a medical degree. He navigated a new country and culture on his own – no family, no community to plug into, no money. But he had courage and determination. Lalitha followed Rao to the US in 1967 after her medical school graduation, and together they raised two children, Praveen (a lawyer turned law professor) and Kavitha (a physician). In addition, Rao and Lalitha became the family’s gateway to the US, assisting numerous relatives who followed in their footsteps. Rao and Lalitha welcomed them, guided them, and provided safe haven for them before they launched their own lives in the US. Rao was the family patriarch, not only providing security and stability to his family members but also serving as the family’s adviser and counselor. He was quiet and unassuming, but he was always attentive – listening and observing, without judgment; when he did speak, you wanted to hear what he had to say. If there was an argument between family members, he rarely took aside, and yet, you felt better after speaking with him, regardless of the outcome. He always managed to lighten the situation with his wit and wry sense of humor. The upward or sometimes downward twitch at the corner of his mouth, and the glean in his eyes would communicate that sense of humor and what he was really thinking, whether words were uttered or not.

As educated and accomplished as he was professional, he believed that you should enjoy life. And he enjoyed his. His greatest pastime was playing cards, usually gin rummy, and always for money – even with the kids. The attraction was not the game (though he was competitive), but rather the camaraderie, the banter, and the laughter. He loved to shop, especially for clothes. He was of the age when you dressed to fly and he never went out without being appropriately attired – most often in a dress shirt, nice sweater, and slacks, and always with a pen in his shirt pocket. He loved his friends who were like family to him, maintaining friendships across oceans and through decades. He loved sports and would watch all of them. When he attended baseball games, he’d always have one hot dog and one beer. He loved to travel and was able to see the World. Even as he was battling his cancer, he was thinking of new places to visit. He loved good food but would rarely pass praise after a meal. If he did, you knew it was special. He drank Johnny Walker Black, almost every night, but never more than “two fingers.” But his greatest love was his family. He was devoted to his children and grandchildren and wanted nothing more than their security, happiness, and well-being. He was an icon. He will be forever missed but in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in honor of Narayana Rao Kosuri Ph.D. ‘69.

https://secure.supportuw.org/give/?id=98432a03-d307-4a45-9323-ab626e7e4f4b&custom=vet01

Services: Due to Covid, a memorial service will be planned for summer 2021. If you are interested in attending, please email k_kosuri@hotmail.com.