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Dr. Velandy Manohar, much beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on June 13, 2025, at Middlesex Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Prema, his two sons, Siddhartha and Vishwam both of New York, and his grandson Theodore. Dr. Manohar was born in Tellicherry, India, on April 14, 1942. After completing his education from Loyola College, Madras Christian College, and Madras Medical College, he arrived to the United States in 1967 for Psychiatry fellowships in Independence, Iowa, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Dr. Manohar began his Psychiatry residency at Harvard Psychiatry Service, Boston City Hospital, where he held the position of Chief Resident from 1970-1971.During his time in Boston, Dr. Manohar taught at various positions within Harvard Medical School and served as Director of Training of the Alcohol Division at Boston City Hospital. He also worked closely with offsite facilities like the Pine Street Inn doing essential work with patients suffering with substance abuse, mental health issues, and HIV/AIDS.

This period living in Boston and Watertown also established a life long love of the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics.In 1977, Dr. Manohar moved to Haddam, Connecticut, to begin work at the newly redeveloped Middlesex Hospital. He worked there for 35 years and served as Director of Substance Abuse and Dual Diagnosis Psychiatry. His office was a place of refuge and hope for countless patients.

During this time, Dr. Manohar also became an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UConn Medical school developing an Ambulatory Psychiatry Rotation for third and fourth year students. Guiding young doctors became one of his passions in life and he kept in close contact with numerous former students.After retirement from Middlesex Hospital in 2006, Dr. Manohar continued to serve the community at the Community Health Center and as Medical Director at Aware Recovery Care, both in Middletown.

In the 1980s and 1990s Dr. Manohar oversaw major legislation in the Connecticut state capital that established guidelines for drunk driving laws in the state. In 1977, he testified to the US Senate Sub-Committee on Health on behalf of Senator Hathaway on the matter of prevention of alcohol and drug related problems. Dr. Manohar also became a member of the American Psychiatric Association and was a Life Fellow until his passing.After becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1993, Dr. Manohar dedicated his life to the United States.

After his elder son’s commissioning in the United Stares Marine Corps, Dr. Manohar began working closely with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, writing new approaches to treat PTSD, substance abuse, and mental health issues among veterans. He championed civil rights and wrote extensively on connections between Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and other fighters for freedom. Dr. Manohar’s strong religious faith led him to become a founding member and early priest in the Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society, located in Middletown, Connecticut, where he taught and wrote extensively on the tenants of Hinduism, the Baghdad Gita, and the Vedas.

Dr. Manohar will be remembered by his wife Prema, of 51 years as a kind, approachable, jolly spirit, lover of books and lively conversation on any topic under the sun.In lieu of flowers, kindly make contributions to the Brainerd Memorial Library in Haddam, Connecticut, a place that he found knowledge, happiness, and refuge for so many years.