Mallikharjuna Rao Seethepalli, lovingly known as "Bigdaddy," passed away on January 3,
2025, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Gatos, California. He was surrounded by the love
of his daughter Aparna, son-in-law Sarvesh, and his two cherished grandchildren, Ankitha and
Akshar.
He shared 58 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Amruta Savithri.
Bigdaddy was born June 14th, 1937 in Kollur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
At just 17, he left his home, driven by an independent streak and a desire to carve his own path.
In 1958, he joined the Indian Army's Corps of Signals, where he served with distinction.
He first served in the NEFA (North Eastern Frontier Agency) war in 1962 and was stationed in
the Sela Pass. After his regiment was split and hurt, Mallik endured 21 harrowing days missing
in action, surviving the jungle with grit and determination. Even when advised to have his legs
amputated, his will prevailed, leading to a full recovery. He became a Signals Officer, served in 2
other wars, and joined a Secret Service called the ARC for the Indian Army. His friends and
family recall how resilient and resourceful Mallik was.
You could drop him anywhere in the world and he would figure out his way. A true adventurer,
Mallik got to know every town he lived in, navigating bus routes with paper maps, memorizing
specific streets, and leading with exploration.
He was a proud licensed HAM radio officer and would conduct tests at the Saratoga Fire
Department to license future generations, including both of his grandchildren.
He was a passionate golfer and talented cricketer.
He was incredibly bright. You could often find him at the dining table working on math problems,
puzzles, and mind riddles; and if you had time, he would have loved for you to join him.
Oftentimes, he would only ever ask for one thing: a calculator to double check his answers.
Bigdaddy was always one to tell jokes and share stories about the family. He was kind and
funny. Bigdaddy's legacy of resilience, love, and laughter will live on in the hearts of his family
and friends. He will be missed by anyone who knew him.