Community mourns Ramesh Goyal

CHICAGO: Members of Indian community in Chicagoland gathered in numbers to mourn the death of one its leaders, Ramesh Goyal, who died last month in a road accident in Jaipur, India.

Metropolitan Asian Family Services (MAFS) held a prayer meet at its facility in Chicago on November 14 while the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) organized a similar meet at Manav Seva Mandir in Bensenville on November 15. Both the places were packed with mourners who came from all walks of life. Goyal had headed MAFs from 2001 to 2004 and also served as FIA president eight years ago. On his way back to Jaipur from Mount Abu, his car was involved in an accident and he died on October 15. He was cremated in Mumbai.

Goyal was born in Bewar, Rajasthan on March 21, 1948. He completed his Masters of Science (Botany) from Rajasthan University in 1971 and finished MBA in Marketing in 1972 from Bajaj School of Management in Bombay, India. He was married to Nalini Patel in December 1975. He migrated to USA in 1976. Nalini Patel completed her M-Pharm Ahmedabad in 1972.

Goyal was a successful businessman  dabbling in real estate, restaurant and hospitality businesses. He was active in community affairs being president of FIA in 1999 and  MAFS from 2001 to 2004. He was honored with the following awards:

• 1998 "Hind Ratan" Achievement Award for NRI (Non Resident Indian) presented by President of India Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma

• 1999 "Community Service Award" presented by Federation of Indian Associations.

• 2006 "Community Service Award" presented by Metropolitan Asian Family Services,

• 2007 "Excellence Service Award" presented by Dunkin Brands Inc,

He is survived by his wife Nalini Goyal and two sons- Tarun and Varun. Tarun manages his father's business and Varun is pursuing his MBA from Kellogg School of Management.
The FIA meeting on November 15 at Manav Seva Mandir in Bensenville was attended by over 100 community activists, friends, relatives and associates.  The MAFS prayer meeting was conducted  by Santoshkumar (Executive Director - MAFS).  

Usha Bodiwala