Krishan “Kris” Sant, 86, of Darien passed away Dec. 23, 2022. His wife of 58 years, Krishna Sant, 86, passed away Jan. 21, 2023.
Kris and Krishna met on a ship traveling from Naples to Bombay in 1962 and were married in India in 1963.
Kris embodied the American dream. He was born in India and left for the Philippines as a teenager where he found a mentor, went to school, got a job, and briefly dated Imelda Marcos. He saved enough to travel by ship to United States.
Once in the U.S., he worked several jobs to put himself through college. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois/Navy Pier campus. Upon graduating, he began a job at Electro Motive in La Grange, where he worked until retiring as the chief quality control engineer. He also owned and operated several small businesses and owned and managed strip malls and apartment buildings.
Community was a very important part of Kris’s life. He was a founding member of the Darien Lions Club, where he held several offices, including president. He was awarded almost every Lion’s Club honor, culminating with the Melvin Jones Fellow, the highest recognition awarded to a Lion.
Kris also served as a member and officer on countless boards and foundations over the years. In retirement, he volunteered as a math tutor at Eisenhower Junior High and as a food pantry driver for the People’s Resource Center. Krishan received many awards, including Illinois Citizen of the Year and Darien Citizen of the Year.
Krishna left her home in India in her late teens for London to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She was the first in her family to go to college. In her early 20s after graduating from nursing school, she decided to come to America.
After arriving in Chicago, she worked as a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital and Frank Cuneo Memorial Hospital. She loved babies and was thrilled to be placed in the ward for premature newborns. She continued working as a nurse until her daughter was born.
Krishna also was engaged in community service. She helped form the West Suburban India Society, which raised money for Indian women in need. Every November, she also raised funds for the Alliance of Asian Americans to ensure a hot Thanksgiving meal was provided for hundreds of people suffering from homelessness.
In the late 1990s, Krishna became legally blind. To help her adjust, she joined a support group for people with sight impairments. Within months, she was organizing social events for members and acting as a mentor to new members. She also began volunteering at the People’s Resource Center.
Krishan and Krishna are survived by their daughter, Anjali; their son, Suneil “Neil” (Liz) of Hinsdale; their grandchildren, Julia and Evan; Krishna’s two sisters and two brothers; and many cherished nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life open house will be held from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at Carriage Greens Country Club, 8700 Carriage Greens Drive, Darien.
