Dr. Srinivasa G. Leelamma (affectionately known as Leela), peacefully passed away on Sunday, October 20, 2024 in Orlando, FL at the age of 88.
Leela is survived by her three brothers and three sisters, residing between India and the United States. She was preceded in death by two of her brothers and one sister.
Leela was born on May 11, 1936 in T. Narsipur, Karnataka, India to G. Sreenivasa Gopalachar & Alamelamma. After earning her bachelor’s and Masters of Science degrees in Hyderabad, India, she moved to Canada in 1965 to pursue her PhD. While residing in Canada, Leela earned her doctorate degree from Marathwada University in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. In 1968, Leela joined the State University of New York (SUNY) in Geneseo, where she educated a countless number of students for 35 years before retiring in 2003. In addition to her day to day work as a professor, Leela was also very active in the academic community, traveling the world to both attend & give lectures. Leela was honored with the excellence in teaching award by the SUNY school system.
Leela was an incredibly loving, supportive and charitable person. She was a pillar of strength and support for her family members, never hesitated to help someone in need, and was a passionate advocate for the transformative power of education. In her retirement, she established multiple scholarships to continue providing opportunities to deserving students.
Her cremation is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday, October, 25, 2024 at DeGusipe Funeral Home in Maitland, FL. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Leela’s life.