Dr. Raghu Ram Veeramasuneni
June 25th, 1947 - February 17th, 2025
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Dr. Raghu's Obituary
Dr. Raghu Ram Veeramasuneni (1947-2025)
Dr. Raghu Ram Veeramasuneni, a beloved and widely respected psychiatrist who dedicated his life to providing compassionate mental health care in Southwest Michigan, passed away on February 17, 2025 surrounded by family and loved ones. He was 77.
Born in the small village of Sangamjagarlamudi, Andhra Pradesh, India, Dr. Veeramasuneni attended Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS), Andhra Loyola College in Vijaywada, and then graduated from his deeply cherished Guntur Medical College, class of 1965. In 1978, he began his Psychiatry residency at Detroit Receiving Hospital and completed his Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at Wayne State University. With his training in medicine and psychiatry, he dedicated his life to providing compassionate mental health care that touched the lives of many through his decades of work at Riverwood Community Health Center, as the Medical Director at Lakeland Care’s Behavioral Health Unit, and later through his private practice. His patients often praised “Dr. Raghu” for his simple, humorous metaphors to explain complex concepts, easing their anxiety, and gaining their trust in him.
Following his professional training in the Detroit area, Dr. Veeramasuneni and his wife Jyothi made their home in beautiful Southwest Michigan. Known affectionately as "Uncle" to generations of families, Dr. Veeramasuneni's generous spirit, Hindu faith, and commitment to service guided his life's work. He didn’t just care for his adopted community; he cared for every person whose life path crossed his own. He was often the first to extend a welcome to newcomers, offering both professional guidance as well as the warmth of family to those far from home. His sincere smile and genuine interest in others made him an admired figure to patients, colleagues, and members of his adopted community.
Dr. Veeramasuneni’s leadership and commitment to his professional and personal calling were further demonstrated through his service as President of the Detroit Telugu Association, and his work with the Guntur Medical College Alumni Association, the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin, the Southwest Michigan Indian Association, and his enduring devotion to the Balaji Temple in Aurora, Illinois. Though he dedicated his professional career to the southwest michigan community, Dr. Veeramasuneni maintained strong connections and an unwavering commitment to his faith and his ancestral home in India. In 1983, he endowed a merit-based educational scholarship program at ZPHS.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Veeramasuneni was also a passionate cricket and card game enthusiast, a quick wit, a lover of Indian films, music, and poetry, an avid gardener, and a sweet tooth with a natural ability to bring people together and make everyone feel special. The annual Thanksgiving celebration at the Veeramasuneni houshold was a highlight of the year for friends and relatives. He and Jyothi opened their hearts and their home to countless individuals and families, creating a loving space where strangers quickly became part of their expansive family.
He is survived by Jyothi, his loving wife and partner of over 50 years; eldest daughter Haritha, her husband Giridhar, and their daughter Anila; second daughter Yojana and her husband Jason; and son Deepak. Their extended family includes many nieces, nephews, and countless others. Our “Thatha” (grandfather) will be sadly missed and forever in our hearts.
Visitation and remembrances will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, located at 2650 Niles Road in St. Joseph, Michigan. The visitation will start at 3:00 pm and continue until 6:00 pm. After that, there will be an open time from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm for family, friends, community members, and those whose lives were touched by Dr. Raghu’s professional care to share their memories and reflections. Those wishing to share a memory of Dr. Raghu online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com
Dr. Raghu Ram Veeramasuneni, a beloved and widely respected psychiatrist who dedicated his life to providing compassionate mental health care in Southwest Michigan, passed away on February 17, 2025 surrounded by family and loved ones. He was 77.
Born in the small village of Sangamjagarlamudi, Andhra Pradesh, India, Dr. Veeramasuneni attended Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS), Andhra Loyola College in Vijaywada, and then graduated from his deeply cherished Guntur Medical College, class of 1965. In 1978, he began his Psychiatry residency at Detroit Receiving Hospital and completed his Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at Wayne State University. With his training in medicine and psychiatry, he dedicated his life to providing compassionate mental health care that touched the lives of many through his decades of work at Riverwood Community Health Center, as the Medical Director at Lakeland Care’s Behavioral Health Unit, and later through his private practice. His patients often praised “Dr. Raghu” for his simple, humorous metaphors to explain complex concepts, easing their anxiety, and gaining their trust in him.
Following his professional training in the Detroit area, Dr. Veeramasuneni and his wife Jyothi made their home in beautiful Southwest Michigan. Known affectionately as "Uncle" to generations of families, Dr. Veeramasuneni's generous spirit, Hindu faith, and commitment to service guided his life's work. He didn’t just care for his adopted community; he cared for every person whose life path crossed his own. He was often the first to extend a welcome to newcomers, offering both professional guidance as well as the warmth of family to those far from home. His sincere smile and genuine interest in others made him an admired figure to patients, colleagues, and members of his adopted community.
Dr. Veeramasuneni’s leadership and commitment to his professional and personal calling were further demonstrated through his service as President of the Detroit Telugu Association, and his work with the Guntur Medical College Alumni Association, the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin, the Southwest Michigan Indian Association, and his enduring devotion to the Balaji Temple in Aurora, Illinois. Though he dedicated his professional career to the southwest michigan community, Dr. Veeramasuneni maintained strong connections and an unwavering commitment to his faith and his ancestral home in India. In 1983, he endowed a merit-based educational scholarship program at ZPHS.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Veeramasuneni was also a passionate cricket and card game enthusiast, a quick wit, a lover of Indian films, music, and poetry, an avid gardener, and a sweet tooth with a natural ability to bring people together and make everyone feel special. The annual Thanksgiving celebration at the Veeramasuneni houshold was a highlight of the year for friends and relatives. He and Jyothi opened their hearts and their home to countless individuals and families, creating a loving space where strangers quickly became part of their expansive family.
He is survived by Jyothi, his loving wife and partner of over 50 years; eldest daughter Haritha, her husband Giridhar, and their daughter Anila; second daughter Yojana and her husband Jason; and son Deepak. Their extended family includes many nieces, nephews, and countless others. Our “Thatha” (grandfather) will be sadly missed and forever in our hearts.
Visitation and remembrances will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, located at 2650 Niles Road in St. Joseph, Michigan. The visitation will start at 3:00 pm and continue until 6:00 pm. After that, there will be an open time from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm for family, friends, community members, and those whose lives were touched by Dr. Raghu’s professional care to share their memories and reflections. Those wishing to share a memory of Dr. Raghu online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com
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Additional Visitation Information
The visitation will start at 3:00 pm and continue until 6:00 pm. After that, there will be an open time from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm for family, friends, community members, and those whose lives were touched by Dr. Raghu’s professional care to share their memories and reflections. A live link will be available at 2:00 pm to join and watch the visitation and memorial reflections on Dr. Raghu's web page.