Remembering T.K. Menon (1928-2026)

June 3, 2026

Thuppalay Kochugovinda Menon's obituary was graciously shared by his son, Ravi, on Tuesday June 2nd, 2026.

T.K. Menon (a.k.a. Kochu or T.K) passed away peacefully in his sleep in Vancouver, B.C. on May 11, 2026 at the age of almost 98.
Kochu was born on June 13th, 1928 in Tattamangalam, Kerala, India. His early interest in physics led him to a B.Sc. from Annamalai University in 1947, winning a Tata scholarship to Harvard University where he completed a Ph.D. in astronomy in 1956 becoming one of the earliest radio astronomers. He moved frequently after that, taking faculty appointments/positions at Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the University of Hawaii, the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. These varied positions led to fascinating experiences from listening to a lecture by Einstein to having dinner at the Kremlin with astrophysicists from around the world. While at the University of Pennsylvania, he met Rama Bai Chintakindi (who was pursuing her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Ohio State). They were married for 64 years prior to his death and had two children Ravi (married to Anne) and Kusum (married to Anand).

He would finally put down roots in beautiful Vancouver in 1979, where he served as Chair of the Department of Geophysics and Astronomy at the University of British Columbia. Students there described him as an excellent teacher with a kind demeanour. He remained at UBC till his retirement at age 65, although he continued to keep an office and attend seminars for more than two decades as an Emeritus Professor. While he and Rama travelled everywhere with his work, in retirement, they continued to travel the globe - now for fun and often on cruise ships. They visited their kids in London and Ottawa and were especially proud of their grandkids Nina and Jasmine. Kochu was a voracious reader of books and a dedicated viewer of the evening news. He could converse on virtually any topic and had a lifelong interest in photography, cameras and audio equipment (maybe related to his passion for radio waves). 

A lifelong atheist, he did not wish to have a funeral, memorial or any “related fuss”. Instead, you may chose to honour his life by stepping outside at night and gazing at the universe that he found so fascinating. He is survived by his wife Rama, son Ravi, daughter Kusum, and her daughters Nina and Jasmine.

 

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