Jai P Bansal

Jai Pal Bansal, 89, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by loved ones on November 5, 2025. Born in Thol, India, Jai was the third eldest of nine siblings to Lajwanti and Aatma Ram Bansal. At age ten, he started attending boarding school where he remained for his primary and secondary education. During the summers, he returned home to help on the family farm. From a hilltop, he would sit and watch civil engineers oversee a large-scale irrigation project nearby. This served as an inspiration for him to continue his education and become an engineer himself. After completing junior college, he attended The Birla Institute of Technology in Ranchi, India. During his undergraduate years, he demonstrated a high aptitude in math and physics and in June of 1960 he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering. In the fall of 1960, he left his beloved family and came to the United State to attend Purdue University, pursuing a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering. Arriving with very few personal items, he joked that one of the first things he needed to do was buy a winter coat and proper footwear. He lived in a small house near campus with other international graduate students and slowly became acclimated to westernized life. During his first semester, he was afforded the opportunity to become a teacher's assistant in the undergraduate labs, which paid for his full tuition while at Purdue. Upon graduating from Purdue in 1962, he started working at Heathkit in St Joseph, Michigan. Outside of work he spent his time taking walks along the Michigan shoreline or busying himself at the local library reading electronic periodicals. In late 1962, he submitted an article to Electronic Design magazine on solid state RC filter design. Unbeknownst to him, an associate read the article, mailed it to IBM, and recommended they consider hiring Jai. He felt this was one a pivotal life event as shortly thereafter he was hired by IBM and thus began a 48 year career specializing in VLSI circuit design. His career at IBM started in Poughkeepsie, NY where he and his wife, Sangeeta started a family. After transferring from NY to Manassas, VA and a brief stint in Burlington, VT, he ultimately decided to settle down in Manassas. In 1979, he built his dream home, a home that he lived in for the remainder of his life. His career at IBM lasted over 30 years, and he worked an additional 18 years at the same location as it went through a series of acquisitions: Loral, Lockheed, and BAE. At the age of 64, he tried out retirement. Soon realizing he was bored and missing work, he returned and worked an additional 11 years. Between the years of 1982 and 2012, he was awarded 14 patents related to ASICs design. He points to the patent, 'Method for Designing Structured ASICs in Silicone Processes with Three Unique Masking Steps' as one of his proudest achievements. Outside of work, Jai's interests were varied. He was an avid traveler, with favorites memories including the excavated terracotta soldiers in China, tulips in full-bloom in the Netherlands, Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, and trips to India to see family. A somewhat private and stoic man, outside of traveling Jai was happiest working in his garden, solving sudoku puzzles, researching the stock market, and spending time with family. Jai was a doting and proud grandfather and enjoyed supporting his grandsons in every milestone big and small. From planning Disney trips when they were young to finding the perfect shirt and tie for their first internship, they were always on his mind. A loving father, a beloved husband, a kind, generous, and patient grandfather. His graciousness, selflessness, and calm demeanor will not be forgotten. Jai is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sangeeta Bansal, his two children: Arun Bansal, Kavita Casotti and her husband Joseph, his two grandchildren: Justin and Nathaniel, his siblings: Ram Kumar, Bala, Suresh Kumar, Jagdish Chander, Kiran, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A service in memory of Jai will be held in accordance with Hindu traditions on November 19, 2025 starting at 9am at Pierce Funeral Home in Manassas, VA. All are welcome to share in prayers and reflection.

Jai P Bansal

October 21, 1936 - November 5, 2025