Navin K. Desai was born in Navsari, India on October 28th, 1935.  At the age of 20 he traveled to the United States to attend Michigan University to attain his degree in Chemical Engineering.  After graduating he moved to New Jersey with his college roommates and started his incredible journey.

In the 1960’s he became a pioneer in aerosol technologies and a founding partner in ChemSpray Labs.  He went on to formulate and manufacturer well known products such as Aquanet Hairspray.

In 1963 he married Cathleen O’Bray and soon welcome two sons; first Raj in 1964 and then Dev in 1966.  In 1974, his company merged with a larger group and Navin left soon after to pursue other interested.  Using his relationships in the cosmetic industry, he began representing manufacturers of cosmetic packaging components from Europe and later South America.  Navin became well known throughout the industry and was a major supplier to companies such as Avon, L’Oreal, Revlon, Estee Lauder and Coty.

Although he continued his career in packaging, his entrepreneurial spirit never rested.  In the mid 80’s Navin became involved in the movie business.  What started as a whim, as a silent investor in a low budget movie, soon became a passion.  Though it never turned a profit, Navin produced quality movies such as Tiger Warsaw and An Unremarkable Life, which included Hollywood stalwarts Patrick Swayze, Piper Laurie, Mary McDonnell, Shelley Winters, Patricia Neal, Mako, and Charles S. Dutton.

At the age of 68, Navin returned to India to visit his brother, Air Marshall Prakash K. Desai and his wife Neena.  It is on this visit that he was introduced to Ram Ignole, the founder of Amrapali Utkarsh Sangh, whom Prakash and Neena were already supporting.  Ram told Navin of his work and his dream to help the children of stone quarry workers outside the city Nagpur. Navin was so inspired by this man that when he returned to the U.S. he told his family and friends that he would dedicate the rest of his life to this cause.  No one could have known that this would end so soon, but not before his message was heard.

On May 21st, 2004, Navin passed away suddenly.  As a testament to his life and what he meant to the people he touched, his closest friends reached out to the family with a promise… to help Navin accomplished what he set out to do.  The organized a huge memorial event at the Montclair Golf Club, at which Navin was a member for over 35 years.  The goal was to raise enough money to purchase land, install the necessary facilities and build the first leg of a new residential school.  This goal was reached and exceeded through the generosity of so many friends who wanted to be part of fulfilling Navin’s final request.

For those who like to better understand Navin through the eyes of his loved ones, or those who new Navin and would like to remember that special day we spent together to say goodbye, we have posted Dev’s Welcoming Address and a eulogy from the family simply entitled Goodbye Navin.

Enjoy and God bless.