Vamadevi Robson

Vamadevi (Vama) Ramachandran Robson

January 10, 1943-January 26, 2026

Vama Robson was born on January 10, 1943 in Kandy, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) the youngest of six children. Both her parents, Thanbiah and Saraswathy Ramachandran died when she was just a baby. She was raised in her ancestral home by her grandmother, Theivannai Ammal Veeriah. She graduated from the University of Sri Lanka (1967) with a B.S. in Agricultural Chemistry, M.S. degree from Cornell University of the Philippines (1969), and her PhD from Oregon State University, (1974), majoring in Biochemistry and Nutrition. She began her humanitarian work in Calcutta, India, under Mother Teresa. After her PhD, she trained local people in public health and nutrition in Papua, New Guinea for 3 years. She returned to the United States where she married Bill Robson on March 7, 1978. She was a member of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and volunteered for refuge work as a nutritionist in the Thailand Cambodian border with Cambodian refugees, in Sudan Ethiopian Border and Somalian refuge camps. When she was home (between refugee camps), she was a Hospice volunteer in Klamath County, Oregon. Vama always desired to work with Native Americans. So she and Bill moved to Farmington, New Mexico in 1990. Vama began teaching as an instructor for Chemistry, Genetics, and Nutrition at Dine' College, Shiprock campus, on the Navajo Nation for over twenty years, retiring in 2012. She truly loved working with the Dine' people. Her pupils would lovingly call her "momma Vama of the Rez" as she helped launch them on their public health and professional careers. After she retired, she actively participated in the San Juan College Encore program. Vama loved gardening, flowers and nature. She stated that the Four Corners region and its people were the first time in the United States that she felt truly at home.

A Celebration of Life is planned at Dine' College, Shiprock campus, later this year.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Basin Hospice.

Farmington Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.