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Gopalakrishnan ‘Gopal’ Varadhan was known as a mathematical musician. He played his acoustic guitar as a teenager, eventually starting a band, City Beat, whilst at the Bronx High School of Science, cutting a record and playing at a number of clubs in New York. The band is well remembered by other alumni, including their signature song called ‘Rockin’ Mesopotamia’ and the appearance of a City Beat graffiti tag appearing around the school.
Gopal has been described as ‘an uncommon man, a perfect mix of masculinity and sensitivity. Gopal had a great sense of humor and was very caring. ‘ by Vera Horn, an ex-colleague during his time at Chemical Investment Group.
On Aug 7th, 2001, Cantor Fitzgerald announced that Gopal had been appointed as the first Managing Director of it’s Interest Rate Derivatives devision in the U.s.overseeing all the interest derivative products, including swaps, options and futures. Cantor said they were ‘gratified to have someone of Gopal’s caliber join the firm.”
The mathematical skills which earned him this job can be traced back to his parents, Professor Sathamangalam Ranga Iyengar Srinivasa Varadhan who was the recipient of the 2007 Abel prize and his mother Vasundra Varadhan, a professor at the University of New York. They also have another son, Ashok.
Gopal was just 32 years old when he died in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. May he rest in eternal peace.
For further reading about this astounding man, please go to:
The NY TImes – Profiles of Grief
Legacy.com – Guest book.
Mutiny – Prof. SRS Varadhan: 2007 Abel prize winner
7 Responses to “In Memoriam: Gopalakrishnan Varadhan”
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September 11th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
What breaks my heart is that so many of those we lost were so young and at the beginning of their lives. Thank you for the tribute.
WC
September 11th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
writerchick – It just doesn’t seem fair. Each life snuffed out in their prime. Makes it hard to keep hope in your heart. Thank you for coming by.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Thanks for your tribute!
I posted one too.
Teena in Toronto’s last blog post..Thursday workout
September 12th, 2008 at 12:46 am
We lost so much that day. Thank you for taking time to write this tribute for Gopal.
Cathy’s last blog post..Project 2996
September 12th, 2008 at 6:43 am
A beautiful tribute. So smart, so young, so much more to offer the world and so sad that he is gone.
My tribute is up, too.
Maggie’s Mind’s last blog post..Jean D Roger Lived Until September 11, 2001 – Re-Post
September 12th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
What a terrible loss. Such a lovely tribute. When you hear the personal stories of people it makes the whole thing seem much worse. Thank you for letting us know about him.
Selma’s last blog post..Pillars Of Salt
September 13th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Teena in Toronto – Thank you for stopping by, I will be reading yours too!
Cathy – We lost too much that day. Too much.
Maggie’s Mind – It is sad that so many were taken so young.
Selma – I think I will be involved in this Project for as long as I have words in me. Far better to remember their lives, than the way they died.