Endowed Scholarship for Dr. Srinivas (Raj) Natrajan Announced

New England College of Optometry is pleased to announce that an endowed scholarship has been established to honor Dr. Srinivas (Raj) Natrajan, a NECO faculty member from 1969–1999 who died on January 8, 2025. The scholarship was established with a generous initial gift from Dr. Natrajan’s niece, Dr. Padmini (Sharma) Nathan OD ’82. The scholarship will go to second year OD students at NECO who excel in pharmacology.

Dr. Srinivas (Raj) Natrajan began his remarkable journey at NECO in 1969 as an Assistant Professor of Physiology. Over the years, he progressed to become an Associate Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology in 1974 and was promoted to Full Professor in 1985, a testament to his dedication and expertise.

Dr. Natrajan’s academic achievements were extraordinary. He earned a master’s degree in Animal Nutrition from Auburn University in 1965, an MS in Pharmacology from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1974, and a PhD in Nutrition from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1969. He also earned his OD from New England College of Optometry in 1984.

After 30 years of committed service, Dr. Natrajan retired in 1999. His contributions were honored with the Alumni of the Year Award, and the faculty passed a resolution recognizing his profound impact. The resolution noted: “Dr. Natrajan has had an influential role within this institution as a distinguished educator in areas throughout the Bioscience curriculum. He has contributed to the reputation of the New England College of Optometry by his activity in optometry and continuing education, both nationally and internationally.”

“Dr. Natrajan’s legacy will continue to inspire generations of students and colleagues at NECO,” said Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, Dipl., President and CEO of NECO. “I was one of Raj’s students back in the day, and I believe that this endowed scholarship will serve as a living testament to his expertise, dedication, and devotion to his students and NECO as an institution. It’s a wonderful tribute.”

Click here to donate and support the endowed scholarship.
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Memories from website visitors:

I have such lovely memories of Raj, who always taught his classes with vitality and kindness. Truly a wonderful person, whom I hold in such high regard. My sympathy and condolences to the family.
Emil Horowitz

A terrific professor and mentor. But also very good at table tennis. I was class of ‘95 and all we had for a diversion from classes and studying in the Becon Street brownstone was that table tennis set up in the common area. And on many occasions Dr. Natrajan would join us to play doubles. He had such a great game, and he would not comment on how we might be missing another class during one of these matches ;).
Frederick Moffa

Raj, as he asked to be called, was one of the very best professors I have had the pleasure to study under. He truly cared about his students and their ability to learn. A warm heart. Truly will be missed.
Sherri Maxwell

Memories posted on NECO’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages:

One of my favorites.
Mitchell Marder

Such a nice guy!!
Judi Schaffer

OMG! Saddened to hear such news! I said Goodbye to him in 1985 when leaving for South Africa after finishing at NEWENCO  I knocked at his door one afternoon – he loved to take a short nap and he had been long telling me to settle in USA and I had to return to look after my parents. I touched his feet humbly as a student to his guru and bade him farewell! Will miss him much ! RIP dear Dr Natranjan.and deepest sympathies to his family.
Rajan Sharma

We had a fun work friendship for many years. I will remember his sense of humor (devilish at times in the best ways) and his frequent winks!
Cindy Grant

Sad news.
Annette Trabold

I’m very sorry, my condolences.
Gianni Martinelli

What an incredible man! He will certainly be missed but never forgotten!! RIP Raj.
Stacy Kosik-Fried

So sorry to hear of the passing of Raj. Great man and professor.
Gary Bleiberg

A familiar name from when I was an optometric tech student at Fisher College/NEWENCO from 1978 to 1980.
Maria Miller

So sad. He was so accomplished and so much fun as an instructor. He had a great sense of humor.
Joe Russo

He was such a nice person and respected clinic director and professor.  May he rest in peace.
Gary Maglio

Raj was a great mentor, colleague and person. All my memories are good ones.
Doug Hoffman

Rest in peace! He was a wonderful professor & mentor!
Mary Boname

Great  professor, and awesome table tennis player.
Spiro Antonacos

Great memories of Raj’s pharmacology class and a few jokes that I still remember! (Class of 1989).
Angie O’Dowd

Ditto!
Kathy Coffey

A true gentleman!  Always with a smile on his face.  Loved his visits to my office!
Rosanne LaBollita

Fantastic professor and over all great guy. Always so positive.  Learned so much from Raj.  A life well lived.
Don Higgins

So very sorry to hear of Raj’s passing!! Such a wonderful man. He will be missed and always loved.
Patty Haller

Fond memories of him. He was a great proponent of a glass of red wine a day!
Mark Aginsky

May he rest in peace.
Paula Bergeron

So sorry to hear this. Raj was great professor.  He was so learned and so down to earth. Heartfelt condolences.
Jack Fried

So sorry to hear of this news. He was a great mentor when I was in school and a trusted friend and advisor after graduating from the international OD program. He will be deeply missed.
Keshav Bhat

So sorry to hear this. Raj was such a great professor and even better human. I can still hear his laugh. Sending my sincerest sympathies.
Laura Johnson Kain

RIP. He was a real Mensch.
Hal Ostrom

One of the best! Besides being a great teacher, he was a wicked ping pong player- we had many great table tennis games together.
Jason Kaminski

May he rest in peace. He was a great professor.
David Dalessandro

So sorry to read the news! Raj was an amazing professor and he truly loved what he did. Rest in Peace.
Corrine Como Bengzon

Sad to hear this.
Kiran Byrapaneni Jones

He was such a great professor and even better person. He will be missed.
Deepak Gupta

One of the best.
Matthew Allen

Sad to hear this. Raj was an excellent professor and he always exuded fun and positive energy.
Jonathan Fishbein

“Everything is hunky, and everything is dory.”-Raj. We were lucky to have him.
Paul Levine

I’m heartbroken to hear about Dr. Natrajan (Raj’s) passing. He interviewed me prior to my admittance at NEWENCO and left a lasting impact on me. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Soma Bose

So sad to hear of his passing. He was a fantastic professor! Signed up for any of his courses at Vision Expos over the years. We knew they would be great.  Rest in peace.
Debra A. Buduo

Sorry to hear this. He taught me pharmacology in the international program.
Miguel P Opto

Rest in peace Raj. I’ll do better on the next pharmacology exam. Loved him!
Leonard Achiron

I have such fond memories of Raj.  Not only was I fortunate to have him as an instructor, but also as a fellow clinician as he earned his OD degree.  We also got a few opportunities to tip a beer or two at Crossroads. I last saw him in NYC at a Vision Expo a few years back.  He will be missed by many.
Richard Belhumeur

He was wonderful!
Arlene Gold

One of two NECO claims to fame, I beat Raj at ping pong.
David Luria

I am saddened to hear of Raj’s passing.  His passion for optometry and dedication to his students influenced many of us who had the privilege of learning from him. My condolences.
Pamela Spinella Sheffield

RIP
Keith Tracy

I always enjoyed his class and his warm personality
Rhonda Greifinger

This is such sad news. He was my Dad’s friend. My Dad taught physiology at Wheaton with Walter Potaznick’s wife. Walter introduced Raj to Dad when my late mother had a stroke and he taught a semester of physiology for Dad while he took time off to care for my Mom. Walter with the help of Raj recruited me to NECO, but Raj retired right before I started school. Dad and I will be forever grateful for how he helped us.
Evan Tong

There is no doubt that he was wonderful human being and oozing with youth even in his advanced age. May his soul rest in peace.
Cuddapah Ramesh

RIP, Dr. Raj!
Augenzentrum Kernen

A great mentor and a great human. RIP, Dr Raj.
Dr. Rick Marrotte

Sorry to hear sad news of Dr Raj. Great mentor with a beautiful smile.
Hardip Thind

He was a really wonderful man. We will miss him!
Prof. Dr. Anna Nagl

Dr. Natrajan was an exceptional professor, had a wonderful sense of humor. He helped so many students and their patients by his knowledge. Many thoughts and condolences to his family.
Naila Aslam OD

So sad at his passing. Loved playing table tennis with him!
Satpal Multani

So sorry to hear this. Great guy. And he had a few good jokes.
Tony Sacco

The world has lost a bright light. I am grateful for the impact Dr Natrajan had on my life through his mentorship at NECO.
Sonya Hooks-Broyles

So sorry to hear this news. He was one of my favorites.
Meyer Stepner

One of my favorite professors. Really loved what he taught and taught us to love it, too. And a truly big, kind heart! May his memory and example be for a blessing.
Susan Rodgin

One of my favorite instructors when I was a student. He will be missed. His dedication to students was a priority and it showed.
Kyle Jones

You will be greatly missed. An exceptional professor with such passion in what he did. I want to personally thank you for your mentorship and always being there when i needed to talk. God bless. RIP, Raj.
Donovan Green

As one of his students, I am saddened by his passing. It was an honor to learn from Dr. Natrajan.
Maryke Nijhuis Neiberg

RIP, Dr. Raj!
Annette Pfund

The world has lost a bright light. I am grateful for the impact Dr. Natrajan had on my life through his mentorship at NECO. ❤️
Sonya Hooks-Broyles

Proud of my uncle’s achievements and contributions. I am touched to see warm regards from everyone.  🙏
Vaidehi Iyer

There is no doubt that he was wonderful human being and oozing with youth even in his advanced age. May his soul rest in peace.
Cuddapah Ramesh