Episode 66: January – March 2014

The quarter started off well with fun weekends away to escape the cold in Miami, Florida and Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as closer to home in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  I took a trip to Europe to help my sister, Carol, move into her new home in Madrid, Spain, and while in Europe, I took the opportunity to catch up with friends in Zurich.

The highlights of the quarter were most definitely overshadowed by the unexpected loss of Neal’s dad, Ravi, in March.  Ravi was scheduled for surgery in Arkansas to treat a spinal injury he had been suffering with for some time.  He responded to the surgery well, but suffered some unexpected post-surgery complications while in the hospital, and passed two weeks later from a respiratory condition called ARDS (Acute Respiratory Disorder Syndrome).

The outpouring of support and love that surrounded Surekha, Neal, and me during the weeks we were in Arkansas and following Ravi’s passing, and when Neal and I returned to Michigan, was incredibly touching.  Ravi’s obituary (below) shares some of the highlights of this amazing man’s life.  Words cannot express how much he is missed.

Until the next time, we urge you to take a few moments to tell those dear to you how much you love them.

Ravi Sheorey, a proud resident of Stillwater, passed away peacefully March 18. He was 72.

Ravi was born July 20, 1941, in Nagpur, India, to W.G. and Vimal Sheorey. He first landed in the U.S. in 1971 as a Fulbright scholar, and enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin for his graduate studies. After obtaining his Ph.D. in applied English linguistics and teaching English as a second language, Ravi earned his first full-time position as an assistant professor at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan. After five years in Kansas, Ravi moved to Stillwater, where he fulfilled a robust, 32-year career at Oklahoma State University. Later in his career, Ravi returned to his research roots, pursuing opportunities to study English learning strategies in Hungary and India.

Ravi was a well-published professor, having issued and presented multiple research papers.

He authored five books and received numerous awards for excellence over the course of his career, including a Fulbright professorship and an OSU Regents Distinguished Teaching Award.

Ravi thoroughly enjoyed being an educator. He thrived on helping others achieve their academic goals, and he pushed his students to challenge themselves and recognize their full potential.

He was always generous with his time and counsel and never hesitated reaching out to his networks to help his students and colleagues.

Outside of work, Ravi loved surrounding himself with people, traveling (especially by train), sharing a glass of wine with friends, capturing moments and faces on camera, discussing and debating politics, watching movies and following the trials and tribulations of OSU sports and India’s cricket team.

Ravi is survived by Surekha, his loyal wife and life partner of 40 years; loving son, Neal; daughter-in-law, Deborah; two sisters, Sudha and Usha; brother-in-law, Anant Dhotrekar, and his wife, Maneesha; parents-in-law, Prabhakar and Leela Dhotrekar; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church, 400 W. Seventh Ave., Stillwater.

In lieu of flowers and in respect to Ravi’s devotion to education, his family has set up a scholarship fund in Ravi’s memory.

Donations to this fund may be made to the OSU Foundation, 400 S. Monroe, Stillwater, OK, 74074.

At the time of donation, please indicate that the gift is being made in Ravi Sheorey’s memory.