Date of Birth:
Saturday, December 22, 1934
Date of Death:
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Age:
90 years old

Awinash T. Talwalkar

Awinash T. Talwalkar – Rochester

Awinash Trimbak Talwalkar, 90, of Rochester, MN, died Tuesday, September 16,  2025, at The Waters on Mayowood in Rochester, MN.

Awinash was born on December 22, 1934, in Girgaon, India to Dr. Trimbak and Girija Talwalkar.  In his youth, he attended boarding schools and enjoyed horseback riding, reading, cricket, badminton and field hockey.  He graduated from the University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT) in 1958 and, after arriving in the U.S. with student loans and without any contacts, obtained a Masters degree and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He always remembered the kindness of the older couples who rented him his first rooms in Madison.

On June 8, 1966, he married Prabha Tembe in Mumbai, India.  Awinash then worked at Corning Glass Works in Bradford, PA where his sons Jay and Nandu were born, and at Sherwin-Williams in Toledo, OH where his daughter Anjali was born.  Awinash and Prabha eventually settled in Chicago, where he worked for the Institute of Gas Technology and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1978.  He continued his career at Bell Laboratories and Lucent Technologies, retiring in 2001.  Awinash and Prabha moved to Rochester, MN in May 2021.

In Chicago, Awinash and Prabha developed a large lifelong community of friends.  Almost every weekend was filled with parties, events and laughs (and a little scotch).  He played golf and tennis and enjoyed watching all sporting events, particularly his beloved Green Bay Packers.  He and Prabha traveled the world several times over for work and in retirement, often accompanied by their friends.  He loved being with his family and friends more than anything else in this world.

He is survived by his wife Prabha, his sons Jayant (Sarah) of Rochester, MN and Nandu (Christine) of Darien, CT, his daughter Anjali of Washington, D.C., and his beloved grandchildren Maura, Sophia, Malia, Nikhil and Matthew.  He considered his daughter-in-law Sarah to be his guardian angel for all the care and help she provided him during his last few years.  He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and two sisters.

The family requests that memorial gifts be designated for research through the Lewy Body Dementia Association (www.lbda.org).  Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com