Balakrishna Rao

He passed suddenly after a struggle with cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Dr. Rao was born on March 29, 1934 in Bangalore, India. He was among 9 siblings and the 6th child in the lineage. His was a life founded in the values of family, education, strong work ethic and a belief in the American Dream. He completed his preliminary education in India at the Indian Institute of Science. He sought graduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston where he received both his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Civil Engineering. He moved west following his graduate studies and was employed faculty at the Civil Engineering Research Facility at the University of New Mexico and subsequently as a principle engineer at the Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco before founding his own professional corporation – Apex Geotechnology, in San Diego, California. He maintained his professional activities through 2009.

He met and married his beloved wife, Uma in 1961. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2021. Together, they immigrated to the United States and raised their two daughters, Pratima and Poornima. He was the original “girl dad” and was always the perfect combination of doting, supporting, and demanding of his daughters. He took great pride in their successes and was always generous with compliments.

After retiring, Dr. Rao continued to take care of his home and gardens. He was a lover of animals and always had a set of dogs to keep him active and engaged. He also loved to show off his fruit trees and beautiful flowers. Uma was always by his side as a constant companion, partner and friend. They managed their home and maintained a network of friends accumulated over decades with care and consideration. Dr. Rao was a lively story teller and would entertain friends with his sense of humor and quick wit.

Dr. Rao is survived by his wife, Uma, daughters Pratima, Poornima (Brian Cruickshank), and grandchildren Deven and Anya. A private celebration of life will be held February 20, 2022. Memorial tributes may be made in the form of donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).