Dr. Krishnaswamy Kathiresan passed away on January 13, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia, two days before his 75th birthday. He was born on January 15, 1949 in Bhavani, Tamil Nadu, India and was lovingly known by his friends as Kathiresan or Kris.

Kathiresan grew up in rural India and lost his father early in life. But despite the odds being against him, he dreamed big and reached his seemingly unachievable goals. Often the smartest and most determined person in his classes, he focused on excellence and higher education and received a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from PSG College of Technology then a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and finally a PhD from Georgia Institute of Technology in Applied Science and Mechanics. He had a passion for aerospace and mathematics. Early in his career, he worked for Lockheed Martin, followed by AT&T and Lucent Technologies as an engineer, and later in his career he became professor of mathematics at Southern Polytechnic State University and Kennesaw State University.

After he immigrated to the United States to pursue his PhD, he married Bagyalakshmi in 1976, and together they created a beautiful family life in Marietta, Georgia. They welcomed their first daughter, Anupama, in 1979 and twin daughters, Prathima and Hema, in 1985. He made sure his daughters had his same work ethic and desire to achieve. He was not only a devoted husband and father, but he also had a close group of lifelong friends in the Atlanta area. Kris was known for his intelligence, sense of humor, caring nature, generosity, and kind heart who was always there to offer his help to others and lighthearted jokes along the way. He would consistently go above and beyond for his family, especially his three daughters and four grandchildren, to whom he was an unconditionally devoted father and grandfather. To his grandchildren, he will always be their beloved Thatha. He was deeply loved and cherished by his family and friends.

Kris is survived by his wife, Bagyalakshmi Kathiresan; daughter and son-in-law, Anupama Sarah Quincey Kathiresan and Jeremiah Johnson; daughter and son-in-law, Prathima Kathiresan and Roey Rosenblith; daughter Hema Kathiresan; and his precious grandchildren, Kaleb Naveen Johnson, Mila Lakshmi Johnson, Nahla Shanthi Grace Johnson, and Daniel Krishna Rosenblith.


A service to honor him will be held on Wednesday, January 17, at 3:00pm at Northside Chapel at 12050 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, Georgia. The service will be simulcast for those who cannot attend in person. Please join us in honoring his memory. He will be dearly missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.