Like many Southern Asians, Anand Mathur joined his children and their children in America after completing a distinguished career in India.
Acclimating to a new culture, after having lived most of one's life in Asia, can be difficult, so Mathur, of Shoreview, did something about it: He cofounded 55 Plus, a seniors group for immigrants.
Mathur died on Wednesday in Arden Hills of cancer and other ailments at the age of 83.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in history from Hyderabad's Nizam College, he joined the State Bank of Hyderabad in India, eventually rising to a top executive post in charge of 2,000 bank branches.
A Hindu, he was learned in Urdu, a language used by the Islamic populations of Pakistan and northern India, and he was a lifelong student of politics, geography and history.
His daughter, Preeti Mathur of Shoreview, said that in Hyderabad, he was much in demand as a public speaker and was a regional Boy Scout leader and astute businessman who met with the likes of Indira Gandhi and Mother Teresa.
Once when Mother Teresa was in Hyderabad, she solicited Mathur's bank for a charitable donation. He agreed, but said he would like her to attend a new bank building opening, which she did, his daughter said.
His bank also made microloans to women starting in business.
Mathur moved to Minnesota in 1990 after his wife of 37 years, Kishen Mohini Mathur, died.
Like other late-life immigrants to Minnesota, he often felt stifled in his new home.
"Their company and talents were in demand back home" but not here, said Jagadish Desai of Little Canada, who retired from an insurance career in Minnesota, and founded the India Association of Minnesota. "He didn't let it get him down, and he redirected his energies to others. He tried to motivate them, and he always helped people."
Mathur also volunteered at the School of India for Languages and Culture, a weekend school held at St. Paul's Como Park High School.
He taught India's culture to children and sang the songs of the nation he left behind.
"He was a very good singer," Desai said. "He brought the words to life when he sang them."
"He was a storyteller," teaching Asian-American children about their culture," said Sudhansu Mishra of New Brighton, a Honeywell retiree who cofounded 55 Plus.
"He was very eager," said Mishra. "He remembered a lot of poetry and things that he used to amuse people with."
Mathur also volunteered in food drives, and other programs.
In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his son, Raj of Minneapolis; brothers, Santosh and Narsingh, both of Hyderabad; sisters, Mitlesh Kishori and Kiran Kishori, both of Hyderabad, and two grandchildren.
Services have been held.