Jagdish C. Sanwal

On May 31, 2023, Jagdish C. Sanwal of Williamsburg, VA passed away peacefully at the age of 88.

Jagdish is survived by his niece Sabra and nephew Anil. He is recently predeceased by his older brother Bishnu.

Jagdish was born in Almora, India in December, 1934. He grew up, one of seven siblings, in the Himalaya Mountains, where his father was a chief forest ranger. He was educated at a boys private school in Almora before moving to New Delhi to get his degree in mathematics. His studies took him to Bloomington, Indiana where he completed a doctorate degree, and to Cornell University after which he became a beloved tenured professor in the mathematics department at the College of William and Mary.

His interest in computer science and robotics led him to NASA, where he helped program the space arm that was used on the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

In addition to his dedication to his professional work, his hobbies were varied and vast. He was a voracious reader, studied to become a professional locksmith, learned about rock polishing and made jewelry. He also learned how to play the stock market with great success.

A cremation took place on Monday June 5, 2023. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Jagdish are asked to consider the College of William and Mary.