Balakrishnan (Ravi) Ravikumar passed away on December 30, 2024.

Ravi was born on May 9, 1957, in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India to Kandaswamy Balakrishnan and Anushiya Devi. From a young age, Ravi had a penchant for sports, never shying away from any sport. Ravi attended a prestigious Sainik boarding school in Tamil Nadu, which served as a pipeline for India’s elite government roles and top officers in the Indian Armed Forces. Ravi was captain of the Pandiya House from 1971-1974, and he was an avid soccer and field hockey player, holding leadership roles throughout his time at Sainik. He was well known around campus for his athleticism and for his innate strategic skills. He was not only a gifted athlete but also a dedicated student, excelling in all his coursework. Whether on the field, in the classroom, or among friends, Ravi embodied determination, passion, and kindness.

While Ravi ultimately chose a different path than the military or government, he carried the discipline, resilience and courage instilled in him during those school years throughout the rest of his life. Ravi pursued higher education with that same drive, earning an undergraduate degree in Textile Engineering from Alagappa College of Technology (AC Tech) and an MBA from PSG Tech, Coimbatore. His legacy as a gifted field hockey player continued in college. Ravi’s college friends fondly remember him “always with a smile on his face and ready to laugh at the silliest of jokes”. Additionally, he took great pride in dressing (and grooming) well and always carried himself with a quiet confidence, earning him the affectionate nickname “Smarty”. 

While textiles were not Ravi’s long-term passion, he realized IT was where he truly thrived. Ravi’s zest for the IT field took him on a journey of stints in Mumbai and New Delhi and ultimately across an ocean to America. Ravi arrived in Lansing, Michigan in the mid-1980s. Fittingly, the sports-loving Ravi moved to America none other than Super Bowl weekend. Along with a few fellow IT friends who also recently moved from India, Ravi spent his first Sunday in America crowded around the television in his hotel room watching the Chicago Bears take on the New England Patriots, while eating Domino’s Pizza. Is there anything more American? 

Ravi’s infant daughter, Archana, and his wife, Shanthi, joined him in America shortly thereafter. A few years and career promotions later, Ravi and Shanthi welcomed their son, Poojit. With his young daughter and son now fueling a greater purpose in his life, Ravi was set on creating a bright future for his family. His determination put him on the path of accomplishing a new mission – The American Dream. Through continuing job promotions (and mergers and acquisitions), Ravi’s job took the Ravikumar family to Ridgeland, Mississippi and then later to Birmingham, Alabama. His children were the center of his world, proudly attending every soccer game, orchestra performance, band concert, school play, and graduation – always on the first row with a video recorder in tow (much to his kids’ chagrin). Ravi always found time to continuously instill in Archana and Poojit the importance of education and financial acumen. 

Ravi’s illustrious IT career spanned 26+ years with Regions Bank, most recently as a Systems Officer on the ATM/Debit Card Team. He took immense pride and pleasure in his work, always willing to lend a helping hand to his colleagues and serve as a mentor to emerging professionals. His dedication, hard work, and deep knowledge made him an invaluable asset, but it was his warm personality, sense of humor, and hearty laugh (that resonated throughout the entire room) that made him an unforgettable colleague and led to many lifelong work friendships. After a brief one-year retirement in 2024, Ravi was called out of retirement by Regions and was looking forward to rejoining the IT Team at Regions in January 2025 – forever a true company man. 

In 2022, Ravi married Latha Palani and moved to Lehi, Utah, where he spent the last three years of his life. He and Latha spent the warmer months hiking and walking along the many scenic trails near their home and discovering new paths. Beyond local adventures, Ravi and Latha also travelled to Lake Tahoe, hiked several national parks, and enjoyed a cruise to Mexico, creating so many lasting memories. 

It was in Utah that Ravi’s passion for walking blossomed – he fondly referred to his new favorite hobby as “free walking”. For him, it was the perfect activity: a chance to enjoy the fresh air, embrace nature, spend quality time with accompanying loved ones, and best of all, it was completely free – a win for both physical and financial health! During the pandemic, Ravi completed an incredible 200 hikes. 

But his love for walking didn’t stop at nature trails – on some days, Ravi even turned Costco into his own personal track. On cold days, he would take strolls throughout the store and brag about hitting his 10,000 steps. Of course, that didn’t mean he would pass on a good Costco deal – few things in life brought him as much joy as buying in bulk (preferably the Kirkland brand) and unbeatable prices. He shamelessly always found a way to plug Costco into every conversation. 

Over time, Ravi’s love for playing sports morphed into a love for watching all sports. When Poojit began attending Auburn University, Ravi found the perfect teammate for his lifelong sports obsession. The two became die-hard Auburn sports fans overnight – though Ravi ultimately proved his passion to be even stronger than his son’s. To put it into context, Ravi did not miss watching a single Auburn football or basketball game in the entire 2024 season. 

While he wasn’t one for extravagant travel, there was one thing that could get Ravi packing – a visit to see Archana or Poojit in Chicago or Charlotte. His life revolved around his children, and nothing made him happier than spending time with them. Ravi was a man of quiet determination, strong work ethic, and an unmistakable laugh. Whether it was through his unwavering devotion to his kids, his meaningful friendships, his walks, or his love for sports, he left an indelible mark on the many who knew him. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy lives on. 

Ravi is survived by his loving wife, Latha; his daughter, Archana; his son, Poojit; his former spouse, Shanthi; and his brother, Jeyaganesh Balakrishnan. On January 2, 2025, a beautiful ceremony and celebration of life was held in Utah in honor of Ravi. 

In a nod to Ravi’s penchant for planning ahead and continuing traditions, his family would like to provide you with a few options to honor his memory. Please consider donating to your local food pantry or an organization that helps feed underserved communities. If donating is not a feasible option, his family would like to assure you that Ravi would also be perfectly content knowing that you chose to invest in yourself – whether that be adding to your retirement/education fund or making a wise purchase of Kirkland brand essentials at Costco!

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