Satish M. Chohan

Satish M. Chohan, beloved husband, father and friend, passed away at his home on May 27, 2026, after a long illness. He was born May 9, 1943. He emigrated to the United States from India and Pakistan at age eighteen with only a few hundred dollars in his pocket. With his creativity, optimism, and perseverance, he built his American dream brick by brick. He understood the transformational power of education and pursued it relentlessly. As a young man, he loaded newspapers onto delivery trucks for the Chicago Tribune. He saved his money to go to school to become a machinist. He leveraged his opportunities and eventually completed his graduate studies in mechanical engineering at Michigan Technological University, and later an MBA at Northwestern University. Early in his career, he designed systems for the electromotive division of General Motors. After GM, he served for years as an engineering manager and vice president at Gates Rubber Company in Denver. His enterprising spirit eventually took him west to the bay area of California where he founded Turnkey Technologies, a company that manufactured computer parts and components for the tech industry. In June of 1997, while living in Benicia, he met Surekha, the love of his life. They married the following year and spent twenty-eight years building their lives and businesses together. Satish, a serial entrepreneur, and Surekha, a successful dental practice. They shared a beautiful life together, and enjoyed family, traveling the world, meditation, the Vedanta Society of San Francisco, cooking delicious food, entertaining friends, and engaging in thought provoking discussions of politics and world events. Satish was intellectually curious and dabbled in a variety of hobbies and interests outside of his professional endeavors. He learned filmmaking and directed a documentary on the history of Benicia. He also wrote a book about current political events called The Trojan Horse. Even as his health had begun to fail, Satish was still busy putting together plans for a second book. During his career he had authored numerous patents, the most recent of which had occurred just before his passing. He loved being an American and frequently lauded the United States as being the true land of opportunity. He volunteered his time on the Board of the Benicia Museum, and as a Board Member of the Glen Cove Committee. He was also a long-time member of Toastmasters. He believed in hard work, perseverance, and giving back to his community. Throughout his life, he continually demonstrated what the American Dream could be for immigrants coming to the United States. Satish was preceded in death by his father Mohan, and his mother Indumati, his brothers, Suresh and Ramesh, and sisters Urmila and Pramila. He is survived by his wife Surekha, and adult children, Raj Chohan (Shaun), Rani Gran (Christopher), Sonia Woodruff (Andrew), Roma Prasad, nieces and nephews, Usha Chohan (Stephen), Savita Chohan, and Shyam Chohan, and grandchildren, Asha, Julien, Mckenna, Cameron, Quinn and Olivia.

Satish M. Chohan

May 9, 1943 - May 27, 2026