SENATHIRAJAH, Nallamma (Nalla) Subramaniam - May 10, 1925 – November 8, 2018
Nalla was born in Velanai, Sri Lanka, to Maragatham and Subramaniam.
She was a pioneer in many fields, with a deep love for community and a commitment to social causes.
She was one of the first women from Sri Lanka to earn a PhD (in Geography, studying on Fulbright and AAUW scholarships at Ohio State University).
After graduating in 1957, she then held faculty posts in England. She moved with her young family to Toronto in 1966 where she worked in urban planning and public policy at OISE, the Toronto and Ontario governments and her own firms. Nalla touched the lives of many people, tirelessly helping those in need and joyously contributing to cultural organizations.
She was known for her eloquent speeches in both English and Tamil and was a founding member of the Vedanta Society of Toronto and Bharathi Kala Manram.
She is survived by her husband Senathirajah, daughter Yalini and son Mahilnan.
She also leaves the beloved families of her sisters Nageswary and Visalatchy and so many friends.
The family extends their deep gratitude to Cummer Lodge and her caregivers Magdalena and Jothy for their compassionate care of Nalla in recent years. Nalla will be celebrated at a memorial service to be announced at a future date.
If you would like information on the memorial, please contact the family at
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