Cheruvillil S. Menon, M.D., Ph.D., 75, died on Monday, March 28, 2011, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

He was born in Cochin, Kerala, India, in 1935. He was the eldest of seven children. He graduated from Sacred Heart College in Cochin, India, with major in chemistry, and minors in physics and mathematics. He worked as a research chemist in Bombay, India, after obtaining a master of science in organic chemistry from Bombay University. He was invited to come to the U.S. In 1964 to pursue a doctorate in organic chemistry at Virginia Tech University.

After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Menon was employed as a research chemist and university faculty member, but also pursued high school teaching, import/export entrepreneurship and other interests before taking a position as a research chemist with Midwest Research Institute in Kansas City, Mo. After the birth of his first child, he completed an accelerated medical doctor program at Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad, Juarez, Mexico, and pursued residency training at Deaconess Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Dr. Menon was a lifelong scholar and authored many publications and presentations in medicinal and organic chemistry.

His scholarship was dwarfed only by his dedication to family. He was an avid videographer and loved gadgetry, timepieces, animals and travel.

Dr. Menon was a longtime physician in Kansas, with more than 25 years of service, including practice at Osawatomie State Hospital. For the past 20 years, Dr. Menon served at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center with retirement planned for June.

Dr. Menon was one of the first people of Kerala to come to Kansas. His legacy personifies the quintessential immigrant dream and serves as an example to all.

He was married to Dr. Rema Menon for 38 years and is survived by his wife and two sons, Dr. Ravi Menon of Washington, D.C., and Mohan Menon of Los Angeles, as well as immediate family in the United States and India.

Dr. Menon’s family will greet friends and well-wishers at the Parsons Senior Center, 1800 Belmont, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be submitted to Parsons State Hospital Endowment Association, P.O. Box 738, Parsons, made attention to Laura, or the Proud Animal Lovers Shelter (PALS), P.O. Box 48, Parsons, 67357, and may be offered at the memorial event.