Krishnalal “Kris” Nanavaty, 95, of Southbury and Newtown, passed away at the Watermark at East Hill on November 15, with his loving children and grandchildren by his side.

Kris was born in Mumbai, India, on June 11, 1926, to parents Ishwardas and Prabhavati Nanavati. He outlived his parents, siblings: sister Laxmi M. Mehta and brothers, Ramesh and Jagdish, and his loving wife of 64 years, Anne Smith Nanavaty, who passed in 2015.

Kris is survived by his six children, David and wife Lorraine, Jayne and partner Don, Charles and wife Joanne, Brian and wife Cindy, Glenn and fiancé Mary, and Alan and wife Nancy; his 10 grandchildren, Adam, Colin, Matt, Aaron, Kyrie, Hannah, Sasha, Alexis, Kali, and Connor; and nieces and nephews in India, Bindi, Bhavna, Rahul, Balesh, Prakash, and their families.

Kris attended New Era High School and Wilson College in Mumbai before traveling to America in 1946 at age 18 to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. It was in Troy where he met Anne and they married on May 18, 1951, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bridgeport. During their loving marriage they lived in Troy, N.Y., Philadelphia, Penn. (where he pursued his MBA at Temple University), Levittown, Penn., Cinnaminson, N.J., and Rochester, N.Y., with summers in West Cornwall, Conn., before settling in Newtown for 25 years, and ultimately in Southbury at Heritage Village for the next 26 years.

Kris will tell you that he was a very lucky person in his career — being at the right place at the right time, networking, making friends, and being driven and determined to succeed. He began his early career working for IBM in Endicott, N.Y., before working for RCA, Honeywell, Stromberg Carlson-General Dynamics, Benrus Watch Company, and other high-tech companies (including the Barnes Engineering Co where he helped develop components for the Lunar Landing Module). In 1975, he started his own tax preparation, accounting, and secretarial services firm, Nanavaty Business Services, in Newtown. He built a very successful business from his basement to 6 Queen Street and eventually settling at 25 Church Hill Road in Newtown, before selling the firm to his son Charles in 1991. Loving math and numbers, he continued to help friends and clients with estate and retirement planning, taxes, and investing.

Kris was active in his communities with the Chamber of Commerce, Secretary for the Committee of Boy Scout Troop 470, Pack 70, Treasurer for the NHS Boosters, and Newtown Little League. Throughout his life, Kris was an active Freemason, raised to the degree of Master Mason in 1953 in Stratford, Conn., and more recently was a member of Hiram Lodge No. 18 in Sandy Hook. He was a lifelong Lion belonging to Lions Clubs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Newtown, Seymour, and Southbury, Conn. Kris was president of the Newtown Lions, Local District Treasurer for the Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation, and served as Connecticut District #23 Governor. He also held several offices at the international level.

Kris and Anne were avid bowlers, golfers (he and Anne traveled to Scotland to golf at the famous Gleneagles Golf Course), and loved monthly Bridge Club gatherings. They were world travelers, traveling with friends, the Lions Club, and family to Europe, Asia, Nova Scotia, Hawaii, and throughout the United States and more, by air, rail, cruise ship, or in the family station wagon. He was never without his camcorder! In 1980, he returned to India, bringing his wife Anne to meet his family, after being away for 34 years. It was a cherished reunion.

After his “official” retirement, he pursued his Real Estate license, associating with William Pitt Realty in Newtown. He later became a Notary Public and a Justice of the Peace, routinely offering his services for free.

Kris enjoyed helping and giving to those less fortunate. He was a philanthropist and a humanitarian. After caring for Anne at their home until her passing, he approached the local Southbury Food Bank with the idea of an annual fundraising auction event. He was involved with the event for four years (until COVID restricted such gatherings), rallying volunteer support, auction contributions, and event space. The events raised thousands of dollars annually in food and food donations for the food bank. Throughout the years, he also offered pro bono accounting services and contributions to local scouting, school sporting groups, and The Church of the Epiphany in Southbury. He established a scholarship in memory of Anne with the local chapter of the American Association of University Women. He created the Men’s and Women’s golf league at the Pomperaug Golf Club.

Kris will tell you that he experienced a quality of life in his 95 years, having the opportunity to study in the USA, meeting and being married to his loving wife, Anne, for 64 years, having six remarkable children and their families, a successful business, extensive travel, and a strong connection to his community.

Kris was a role model to many. He loved golf and working out at the gym, which he continued to do into his 95th year. He was a loving husband, father, and friend who was always willing to give a stock market tip!

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, 11 am, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street, Newtown. Those who cannot attend in person can live stream the service at trinitynewtownct.org.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Anne and Kris Nanavaty Memorial Scholarship Fund-Newtown Scholarship Association, PO Box 302, Newtown CT 06470.

To leave a message of remembrance, please visit carpinocares.com.