The GW community was deeply saddened to learn that an alumnus and former GW parent were among those who died at Navy Yard as a result of the shooting on Sept. 16. GW Today reported on the loss of these two community members:
Alumnus Gerald “Jer” Read, M.A. ’90, and Vishnu “Kisan” B. Pandit, parent of two GW alumni, were among the 12 people killed at Navy Yard. Mr. Pandit was brought to GW Hospital Monday and pronounced dead from a gunshot wound.
“We were deeply saddened to learn that two members of our GW family were lost in this tragedy,” said GW President Steven Knapp. “On behalf of the George Washington community, I send condolences to the Read and Pandit families and ask that we keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”
Mr. Read earned a master’s degree in sociology from the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. He lived in Alexandria, Va., and worked as an information assurance specialist with the Navy Sea Systems Command, according to news reports. He is survived by his wife, daughter and three grandchildren.
Mr. Pandit’s two sons earned degrees from GW. Siddhesh V. Pandit, B.S. ’02, graduated from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Kapil V. Pandit, M.S. ’06, earned a degree in project management from the School of Business. An engineer, Mr. Pandit lived in North Potomac, Md., and was employed by the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a grandchild.
This article orginially appeared on GW Today on Sept. 18, 2013.
