S.A.Nallathambi,MD Obituary (1932 - 2019)

S.A. Nallathambi, MD passed away, Sunday, December 29, 2019, at the home of his great-nephew Kingsley Lawrence in Monmouth Junction, NJ. He was born in India on March 15, 1932 to Swamikkan Appavoo and Packiamuthu Nallathambi. Dr. Nallathambi married Dr. Helga (Ram) Nallathambi on April 20, 1963. She preceded him in death on May 18, 2014. Dr. Nallathambi graduated from Scott Christian High School, St. John's College, Madras Christian College and Christian Medical College in India. He did his residency at Children's Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada and Children's Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at Montefiore Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and received Board Certification in Internal Medicine at Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a clinical professor at the University of Pittsburgh until 1980. In the early 1960's Dr. Nallathambi was asked by Dr. Tom Dooley, Lowell Thomas and Congressman Walter Judd to become Chief Medical Officer for the Central Relief Committee of India. As such, he led a team of doctors and nurses who set-up clinics to care for the thousands of Tibetan refugees who had escaped to India. Many of these 25-30 bed clinics are still functioning today. During those years, Dr. Nallathambi served as the personal physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his family. In 1972, Dr. Nallathambi established a medical practice in Butler through which he has served the needs of thousands of area residents. He served as President of the medical staff of Butler Memorial Hospital and Chairman of the Butler County Medical Society. He was a member of St. Andrews United Presbyterian Church, Butler, Pennsylvania. His hobby was growing tropical plants and vegetables. He operated a large farm in St. James, Jamaica, a farm in Homestead, Florida and was involved in horticulture in Hosur, India. His passion was the Indo American Home for Children that he and Dr. Helga Nallathambi founded in 1999 in Kannangulam, India. It is owned and operated by the Nallathambi Education and Health Foundation and exists as a mission to shelter, feed, clothe, educate and provide medical care in a nurturing, Christian environment for orphaned and destitute children. Many people in the Butler area support the Children's Home. Survivors include his grand-nephew Kingsley Lawrence of New Jersey, grand-niece Regi Yesudhas of Texas, grand-niece Namrata (Ram) Andriessens of Maryland. Visitation for S.A. Nallathambi, MD who died, Sunday, December 29, 2019 will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 18, 2020 at St. Andrews United Presbyterian Church, 201 East Jefferson Street, Butler, Pennsylvania. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 18, 2020, at St. Andrews United Presbyterian Church with Pastor Merry Meloy and Reverend Doctor Gordon K. Powell officiating. In lieu of flowers a memorial donation may be made to St. Andrews United Presbyterian Church, 201 East Jefferson Street, Butler or the Indo American Home for Children, Post Office Box 909, Butler, Pennsylvania 16003.