Item sent by Jeevananda Keerthisena
Venayagampillai Shanmuganayagam, aged 85, passed away peacefully in Markham, Ontario, on January 15, 2026. He was born on May 30, 1940, in Point Pedro, Sri Lanka.
A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and respected academic, Mr. Shanmuganayagam lived a life defined by intellect, principle, and quiet service. Raised in humble beginnings, he learned early the values of perseverance, selflessness, and responsibility, qualities that shaped both his character and his life’s path.
An old boy of Hartley College in Sri Lanka, Mr. Shanmuganayagam, carried a lifelong commitment to education and excellence. He graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ceylon in 1962 and completed his postgraduate research at the University of Cambridge in England. He consistently ranked at the top of his class, achievements he rarely spoke of and ones many learned of only through others.
This quiet humility characterized his life as much as his accomplishments. He later became a distinguished professor of structural and civil engineering, serving at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka and later at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Through his teaching and scholarship, he mentored generations of engineers and made lasting contributions to the field, instilling in his students the same rigor and integrity he lived by. He had a profound love for literature and learning that transcended cultures, languages, and time. He had an extraordinary memory and took great joy in reciting verses from the Hindu epics, particularly the Mahabharata, as well as the works of Shakespeare. This deep engagement reflected not only his intellect but also his moral sensibility and appreciation for the human condition.
Above all, he was a man of deep responsibility and sacrifice. Throughout his life, he placed the needs of his family above his own, fulfilling his duties with perseverance and care. His devotion to his wife and children, and later to his grandchildren, was expressed not through grand gestures but through guidance, kindness, and unwavering support.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Kalamathy; his sons, Dhanansayan, Kalaichelvan, and Dhaksayan; his daughters-in-law, Laura, Suhaliya, and Merujah; and his cherished grandchildren, Isabella Sohana, Julien Vyasa, Haren, and Milani.
Venayagampillai Shanmuganayagam will always be remembered for his quiet humility, sharp intellect, and deep devotion to family, learning, and duty.
His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched.
“That which is righteous endures.” — Mahabharata (c. 400 BCE–400 CE)”
Visitation : Monday, January 19, 2026. 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm;
Tuesday, January 20, 2026. 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 9:30 am
Chapel Ridge Funeral Home. 8911 Woodbine Avenue Markham, ON L3R 5G1
Cremation will take place on the 20th January, 2026 at 12pm at North Toronto Crematorium located at 2 Stalwart Industrial Drive, Gormley, ON; Officiant: Nadarajah Kurukkal
