Murali Dharan

Murali Dharan, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on the evening of Thursday, January 29, 2026, with his family by his side. A stern and often stubborn, occasionally gruff but ultimately affectionate, pious and kind soul, Murali was a charming and engaging man who deeply impacted everyone fortunate enough to know him. Born on August 15, 1946, in Udumalaipettai, Tamil Nadu, India, Murali was the youngest of five siblings. After completing his graduate studies in India, he met and married the love of his life, Tara, in 1973. The couple embarked on a new chapter together, moving to Ontario, Canada a year later. Murali began a long and distinguished career in information technology with the Bank of Montreal, settling in the Toronto suburb of Markham. It was there, over the course of twenty-five years, that he and Tara raised their two children, Vanita and Ramesh. He dedicated his time and energy to their upbringing, and found great purpose in impressing upon them his strongly-held values and beliefs. While he maintained his own hobbies and passions - photography, Carnatic music, and cooking chief among them - for Murali, no sacrifice was too great if he believed it could help better his children’s future. As his daughter and son grew and moved to the United States for their own education, Murali and Tara followed suit; first to Salem, Oregon, then Dallas, Texas, before settling in Albany, New York, where Murali continued his career with the Bank of America, serving as a Vice President of Technology until his retirement. In his later years, he and Tara moved to Wilmington, Delaware, to be closer to their grandchildren. Murali had a remarkable gift for kindling strong, lasting friendships wherever he lived. He was a pillar of the South Indian communities in Toronto and Albany, and an active board member and participant in the local Hindu temple societies. Murali is survived by his beloved wife of over fifty years, Tara Dharan; his brother, Venkat Manian and sister-in-law, Janaki Manian; his daughter, Vanita Jain and her husband, Arvind Jain; and his son, Ramesh Dharan and daughter-in-law, Anna Kukowski. He was the proud grandfather of three grandchildren: Aneil Jain, Anya Jain, and Devika Dharan who will remember him fondly. When confronted with the various unpredictable challenges that life presents, Murali often cited a Tamil proverb: “Thalai Ezhuthu”. Loosely translated, the phrase means that one’s path in life is predestined. Despite the numerous hardships and setbacks he encountered and overcame in his nearly eighty-year journey, Murali leaves behind a lasting legacy of hard-fought wisdom, unwavering faith, and commitment to a greater purpose. His prudence and generosity benefited countless people, but none more so than his loving family who will forever hold him in their hearts - may we all be so fortunate as to follow a similarly pre-ordained path.

Murali Dharan

August 15, 1946 - January 29, 2026

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