Vijaya Nagarajan, Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, and her children, Jaya and Uma, send the following message in gratitude to the USF community in the wake of the loss of Lee Swenson, Vijaya's husband and Jaya and Uma's father.
We are writing with heavy hearts to let you know that on Saturday, January 27 at 8:05pm, Lee passed away peacefully in the arms of Vijaya, his loving partner for over forty years, and their twin children, Jaya and Uma.
Lee spent his final few weeks at Kaiser Oakland being treated by the fabulous orthopedic surgical medical team and palliative care team after a terrible fall on the evening of December 31, 2023. He was comfortable and surrounded by his loving family during his final days.
We are grateful for all of your support while we grapple with this massive loss, and we are so lucky to be surrounded by such a loving community. We are comforted by the knowledge that Lee lived a long, fulfilling life that was full of love until the end (see obituary in the SF Chronicle).
If you are so moved, please plant a fruit tree, a flowering bush, or a favorite vegetable in his honor, or any act that continues life.