Shrewsbury – Soma Suresh, 52, passed away peacefully at his Shrewsbury, MA home on May 24, 2023. While his departure is unexpected for his loved ones, he lived a life filled with adventure and happiness.
Born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, he always reminisced about his early years with a grin, fondly recounting a simple, carefree childhood. Leaving home as a young man to escape a civil war and to pursue an education, he lived in India and Colombo before immigrating to the United States. There he completed a Master of Science in Computer Systems Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, and then embarked upon an accomplished career in software engineering.
Together with his beloved wife Piriya, they built a life from scratch in Shrewsbury, seeking to give their children the kind of opportunity that they didn’t have back home. Suresh was a person of wide-ranging interests and many exceptional talents. He painted and photographed, he was a master in the kitchen and at the grill, he was handy with tools and resourceful with his hands, he was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed both the mountains and the ocean, he played cricket in Sri Lanka and skied in New England, he built computers and loved all the latest gadgets and electronics, he played the Mridhangam as a boy and jammed to the Beatles as a man, and generally approached life with an affinity for expanding his horizons by exploring the novel and unknown.
More importantly, Suresh was effortlessly kind, youthful, fun, grounded, and genuine. His intelligence, professional success, and personal achievements never changed him, as he carried a fresh authenticity throughout his life making him welcoming and relatable to anyone. He cherished his Tamil roots without ever prescribing to any cultural norms or expectations that didn’t align with his values. He was an uninhibited thinker, brave enough to march to the beat of his own drum, while encouraging others to embrace their unique life journey. He was a loving husband, father, and friend, and also knew how to throw a great party. He will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.
Suresh is predeceased by his father Capt. Nagalingam Somasundaram (Vice Principal, Jaffna Hindu College), mother Kanagambikai Somasundaram (Vice Principal, Vembadi Girls School) and his father-in-law Suntharampillai Thadchanamoorthy (Principal, Maldives School System). Suresh is survived by his dear wife Piriya, and his children Yarlan and Kanaa, who were his pride and joy. He also leaves behind his sister Niranjana Rubaraj, brothers-in-law Uvarajah Rubaraj and Paranthakan Thadchanamoorthy, nieces Shanuga and Shagana, mother-in-law Kamalambihai Thadchanamoorthy, and countless extended family & friends.
His loved ones are invited to celebrate his life on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at 9:45 AM, at Callahan Fay Caswell Funeral Home at 61 Myrtle Street, Worcester, MA, 01608. In spirit with Suresh’s trademark down-to-earth vibe, we encourage casual, informal attire for the event in his honor.
If you are considering a donation, please consider supporting his legacy fund, which will continue his community service efforts for his village in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
