Saint Louis University Professor Dies

Gandikota V. Rao, Ph.D.

Known as “G.V.” to most, Rao recently was appointed chair of the department. He joined the faculty of SLU in 1971 and was a greatly admired and truly beloved member of the University community.

Dr. Rao was born July 15, 1934, in Vizianagram, India. He became a U.S. citizen in 1977. Dr. Rao earned a master’s degree in physics from Andhra University in Waltair, India, in 1955. He earned a doctorate in meteorology from the University of Chicago in 1965. He was involved with several professional organizations, including the American Meteorological Society.

Dr. Rao’s research interests included tropical meteorology. Hurricanes and monsoons were among his areas of expertise. His teaching areas included convection, tropical meteorology and numerical methods. He was noted for his energy, excitement and forward-looking vision.

J. Michael Sproule, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, encouraged members of the SLU community to include Dr. Rao and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

Rao is survived by a wife and two children. Details about memorial arrangements will be provided as soon as they available.

Donations in memory of Dr. Rao may be made to a memorial scholarship in the meteorology area of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. For more information, contact Lisa Suggs in development at (314) 977-2205 or suggslv@slu.edu.

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