The Laxmi Kesavan Memorial Fund was established in 2023 to honor the memory of Laxmi Kesavan (1936-2022), a longtime resident of Waterloo and pillar of the local Indian community.  Laxmi first came to Waterloo in 1960 along with her husband Prof. H.K. Kesavan, who would later establish the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo.  Their home quickly became the center of life for a large network of extended family, graduate students, and other visitors to Canada.

Laxmi raised her three daughters in Waterloo while also being active in the local community.  She was a member of the East Indian Ladies Club and worked in the local schools as a cafeteria aide.  Her own busy kitchen was famous for producing excellent traditional South Indian cuisine for generations of family, friends, and students, yet was also a laboratory for culinary experimentation.  She continued to uphold Indian traditions while living in Canada, while also embracing the best of Western culture and becoming an avid sports fan.

This Fund celebrates Laxmi’s generosity to others and ensures that her legacy will continue in the community that she helped establish and called home.

If you would like to learn more about the Laxmi Kesavan Memorial Fund, please contact WRCF at 519-725-1806 or info@wrcf.ca.