Vinay Mody passed away at his home on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

Born in Surat, India, Vinay was raised in Mumbai before coming to the United States in the late 1960s. He built a new life and an accomplished career in America while always maintaining a deep connection to his Indian heritage, his family, and his spiritual traditions. Throughout his time in the U.S., he lived in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia, and Richland, Washington.

Vinay studied engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and became a certified civil engineer. His intellectual curiosity, however, extended far beyond engineering. He later pursued advanced studies in gemology, earning a master’s degree in the field and developing an expertise that would become an important part of both his professional and personal life.

Over the course of nearly 50 years, Vinay enjoyed two very different and equally fascinating careers in engineering and the jewelry business. He began his engineering career in the United States and worked for organizations including Westinghouse, Battelle, and the City of New York. Beginning in the 1970s, he worked as an engineer on major government projects associated with the Hanford nuclear site in Richland, Washington.

Alongside his engineering career, Vinay remained deeply involved in his family’s jewelry business. His fascination with gemstones, entrepreneurial spirit, and talent for international trade took him across the United States and around the world. Fluent in several languages, he traveled extensively for the gem trade, including throughout India, Thailand, Singapore, and other parts of Asia.

After moving to New Jersey in 1990, Vinay continued the jewelry trade with his brother, Kamal, in New York City. He later returned to engineering with the City of New York, where he served as a project manager on significant development projects. Vinay never stopped pursuing new goals or challenging himself professionally and personally, and he continued to inspire his children and grandchildren to follow their own interests and dreams. He retired in 2012 but never slowed down.

For the past six years, Vinay made his home in Mendham with his son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and beloved cats, sharing those years with his wife, Smita, until her passing. This chapter of his life gave him time to appreciate the natural surroundings, enjoy the company of his grandchildren, and take part in dinners, celebrations, and everyday moments with family and friends. He also became an active member of the Mendham Township Senior Group, participating in senior yoga classes and monthly luncheons.

Vinay was deeply devoted to his family. He was the beloved husband of the late Smita Mody and the loving father of Neil Mody and the late Viral Mody, who predeceased him in 2020. He was a cherished father-in-law to Joan Mody and an immensely proud grandfather to Nina, Serena, and Rohan, who were among his greatest sources of happiness and pride. He is also survived by his siblings, Vasumati, Hansa, Naranjan, and Kamal, as well as many extended family members whom he treasured deeply.

Family gatherings held a particularly special place in Vinay’s heart. One of his final celebrations was a large family wedding in Philadelphia, where he was able to spend joyful time with relatives and loved ones. It was a fitting reflection of the way he lived his life—embracing celebration, enjoying the moment, and finding his greatest happiness in being together with the people he loved.

Spirituality was central to Vinay’s life. He was deeply devoted to the teachings of Dada Bhagwan, with its emphasis on Self-Realization, awareness of the pure Soul, and living with equanimity and harmony in everyday life. He regularly participated in Dada Bhagwan satsangs and gatherings and remained deeply connected to his spiritual community throughout his life. He also loved singing bhajans and playing the harmonium, finding joy, peace, and connection through music and faith.

Vinay possessed an extraordinary range of interests. He enjoyed chess, carrom, and billiards, especially when those games brought family and friends together. He loved cooking Indian dishes, baking bread, and trying something new in the kitchen. At home, he had a special affection for his cats, Tom and Jerry, and took great pleasure simply spending time and playing with them. He was also an enthusiastic viewer of Indian Idol on Zee TV.

Travel remained one of Vinay’s great joys throughout his life. Whether traveling for business, family celebrations, or simply for the experience of seeing somewhere new, he embraced each journey with enthusiasm. One particularly meaningful recent trip was a family journey through India’s Golden Triangle, where he revisited the Taj Mahal and had the opportunity to share his birth country, its culture, and its history with his grandchildren.

Vinay had a remarkable ability to find happiness in simple moments. He did not need a grand occasion to enjoy life and was always willing to try something new, explore somewhere different, or take on another interest. Creative, ambitious, resilient, and endlessly curious, his passions stretched from engineering and jewelry to music, cooking, spirituality, travel, and games.

He was never afraid to take an unconventional path. From moving across the world and pursuing two distinctly different careers to continuing his education, beginning new ventures, and setting new goals throughout his life, Vinay believed in continuing to grow. Just as importantly, he encouraged the people he loved to do the same.

Above all, Vinay will be remembered for his devotion to family, his deep spirituality, his curiosity about the world, and his enduring ability to find joy in the people, places, and experiences around him. His life was rich with accomplishment and adventure, but his greatest legacy will be the love, encouragement, and example he leaves with his family.