Obituary: Dr. Vijayasekaran ‘Viji’ George, former president of Concordia College New York

George

Dr. Vijayasekaran “Viji” George, former president of Concordia College New York (CCNY), Bronxville, N.Y., died on Feb. 19. He was 73.

George was born on Aug. 24, 1951, in Chennai, India, the youngest of five siblings. He immigrated to the United States in 1971. He earned bachelor’s (1974) and master’s (1976) degrees from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., and a doctorate in psychology (1979) from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Ill. He served at CCNY for over 35 years — as a professor of psychology, dean of students, assistant to former CCNY President Dr. Ralph Schultz and finally as its eighth president (1999–2016).

During George’s tenure as CCNY president, the college added graduate degree programs, launched a nursing program and upgraded its facilities. Also under his leadership, CCNY received a Medal of Honor in 2002 from the National Arts Club — the first college ever to do so.

George served on the board of directors for the Atlantic District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and on various planning teams for the Concordia University System. In 1994, he established the Good Shepherd Center for the Family in Bronxville, N.Y., which produced resources for the Christian family. In 2002, George received Wheat Ridge Ministries’ “Seeds of Hope” award, given for dedication to serving in the areas of “health, hope and healing.”

“We may be tempted to focus on what we have lost with [George’s] passing, but in my mind, we will always remember what we gained and [how] we continue to benefit from … his life and legacy [and], most of all, his love and devotion to … Christ, the Son of the living God,” said the Rev. Dr. Robert Hartwell, who preached at George’s funeral on March 1 at Village Lutheran Church, Bronxville, where Hartwell serves as senior pastor.

An online obituary described George “an avid gardener, an Indian cook extraordinaire, a curator of diverse works of art, and an enthusiastic explorer of far corners of the globe. Above all, he was a proud father, grandfather, and husband. [His] presence was large, as is the void his absence leaves behind, but we take comfort in knowing that he is at peace in the arms of our Savior and that we will be reunited with him once again.”

George is survived by his wife, Janet; daughters Sarah (Timothy) Athans and Dr. Emilie (Joshua) Gilman; grandchildren Eleanor and Henry; and siblings Dr. Padmini Charles, Dr. Chandran George and Rani Dhanarajan.

Posted June 4, 2025