As I write this, Nacha is being laid to rest………how do you write about someone whose reach has spanned across generations, whose zest for life, whose passion for travel, whose concern for his friends and family and whose vibrance touched everyone?
Nacha, a moniker for Natarajan is my mom’s uncle (the youngest brother of my maternal grandfather) and my younger grandfather or chinna-thaatha (சின்ன தாத்தா ). I lost both my paternal and my maternal grandparents when I was very young so Nacha was my thaatha for 40 years.
Growing up, and even after we became adults, Nacha was the life of the party, someone everyone loved talking to, age no bar. He danced without a care, had a lot of fun, worked hard and worked out hard. He was so particular about his fitness level and his health that he never, ever skipped a day of exercise. He was the one who introduced us all to “walking/jogging in place” when the weather was not cooperating.
He was my fierce supporter and advocate when he knew that I was struggling with fibromyalgia. He not only understood the stigma associated with invisible illnesses but took the time to research, talk to people, spread awareness and shut down skeptics. I will always be thankful and grateful to him for that, for believing in me.
My mom told me that when he realized he was dying, he personally thanked his doctors, the nursing staff, friends and everyone else who took care of him. It brought tears to my eyes as even in his last moments, he showed grace.
At 80, he was still young at heart and everyone I talked to in the last 2 days remembered it and his zest for life and it is this memory that I will hold on to.
I love you Nacha and thank you for all the wonderful memories that you gave me all to remember, cherish, and share. You will be missed sorely by all of us!
To quote my younger one who loved Nacha lot, “he will be always with us,”
And think of him as living
in the hearts of those he touched…
for nothing loved is ever lost
and he was loved so much ~ Ellen Brenneman
LGV 
Really very touching account. I would further add about his love for good food. He has never hesitated to compliment good and tasty food, good home decor, and he believed in presenting things in an organised manner. He loved sweets. He was very fond of the rava kesari I prepare.
Condolences. It sounds like your Nacha had no boundaries and new what was important to the people in his life. Obviously his was a life well lived.