NORTH READING — After celebrating 50 beautiful years of marriage together, devoted husband, Anand, son of deceased father and mother, Girdhar Das and Pratima Seth of India, passed away peacefully at his home on December 17, 2021. Just 17 days later, his beloved wife, Cherrie, daughter of deceased father and mother, Ralph and Gladys Nadeau of Maine, passed away, joining her husband on January 3, 2022.
Anand was born in Nashipur, India on October 16, 1945. He spent his first three years in Ghazipur before moving to Varanasi. He attended the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology in Allahabad, India, before earning his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maine in Orono where he met his college sweetheart, Cherrie.
Anand was an accomplished Professional Engineer whose expertise spanned over 50 years of designing and optimizing building systems and facilities operations in world-class institutions. After college, his impressive career began at the Harvard School of Public Health. He then went on to become Director of Utilities and Engineering at Massachusetts General Hospital 1979-2003. From 2003-2008 he was the Northeast Regional President for NV5. He later became the Engineering Principal at Cannon Design 2008-2013. From 2013-2021 he was Principal Emeritus of ICO Energy and Engineering, Inc.
Anand was the recipient of the ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award and Lifetime Service Award. He was a mentor to many and was co-author to a series of books on laboratory environments.
In 1975, Anand honored his family’s tradition and became a Freemason. His dedication to the Craft culminated in him being elected 1982-1983 as Worshipful Master of the North Reading Masonic Lodge where he served as Master Mason for 45 years.
Anand was an absolutely brilliant and loving gentleman who cherished his wife, Cherrie, above all else. The two were filled with such warm kindness and shared their selfless support, guidance and encouragement with so many.
Cherrie was born in Portland, Maine on August 16, 1947 and graduated from Deering High School in 1965. She earned her Bachelor’s in Modern Languages in 1969 from the University of Maine in Orono. She began her teaching career at Black River High School in Ludlow, Vt. where she taught Spanish and English from 1969-1971. From 1971-2002, Cherrie was a dedicated North Reading Public School teacher and held a Department of Education Teaching Certificate for French, German and Spanish. She taught Spanish at the High School for eight years before transferring to the Middle School where she taught Spanish, as well as inspired students with the Home Economics and International Food and Cultures classes. She retired in 2002 after 30 years of service.
Cherrie was forever a kid at heart with a unique, fun and eccentric personality. She was a magnificent gardener and gifted cook. She had so much to share; her wisdom, knowledge and appreciation for the beauty that she found in the world around us. She always tried to help those wherever she could and impacted so many with her kindness and generosity. She was passionate and her heart was remarkable.
Anand and Cherrie were best friends throughout, rarely apart and sharing everything together. They loved the adventure of traveling to new places and built wonderful memories at their former summer home on Peaks Island, Portland, Maine.
Anand and Cherrie are survived by their daughter, Alexandra Seth; and their loving and forever grateful niece, Kimberly McGhee and her husband Matthew; nephew, Ralph Nadeau and his wife Jamie; their adoring grandnieces, Brianna, Chelsey, Eden and Ryan; and grandnephews, Aiden, Owen, Hunter and Josh, as well as Anand’s brother, Asit Seth of Ghazipur, India, and his many loving cousins.
Calling hours will be held at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, on Thursday, January 20 from 4-7 p.m. followed with a Prayer Service.
