8 minute read
The Thiruselvam Family: Onto the Next Adventure
Resident Feature by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Thanks to Alpha Century Security of Newtown Square for sponsoring our Resident Feature.
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This month’s Newtown Square family is David and Gira Thiruselvam and their three children. They certainly know how to enjoy life! Whether it’s traveling around the globe or welcoming friends and neighbors into their beautiful home, this family is always ready to make memories.
David moved with his family from India to the United States when he was a preteen. After he attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Colorado, he enlisted in the United States Navy, which awarded him with an academic scholarship to Savannah State University. David earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and later a law degree from Mercer University School of Law. He then relocated to our area and began his career with the Philadelphia Public Defender’s Office. Then, after working for a few private law firms, David decided to open his own practice in 2007, specializing in representing victims of crime and personal injury. “I get great satisfaction in helping severely injured victims of crime receive some measure of justice,” he said.
Gira and David Thiruselvam
Photo by Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
David’s wife Gira was only four years old when she and her parents moved from India to the Philadelphia area. After living in a few Delaware County neighborhoods, her family, now with two younger brothers in tow, eventually settled down in Newtown Square. In 1979, Gira’s parents purchased a home on Bishop Hollow Rd, on a piece of land big enough to subdivide into three lots; one for each of their children to raise their families together some day.
Gira, a proud Marple Newtown Senior High School grad, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Administration from Saint Joseph’s University. Her first job with Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia turned into a successful 20-year career in sales and management. In 2008, Gira opened her own insurance brokerage firm, CCM Benefits, to offer small group and individual health insurance plans.
Life sometimes has a funny way of placing the person you are destined for right in front of you. In Gira and David’s case, love was just two short city blocks away: They met in 1997, while they were both working in downtown Philadelphia. A friend of Gira’s kept telling her that she really needed to meet his good friend David. That friend must have been onto something because he was very persistent. Gira agreed to meet David and some friends after work one night. Little did she know her friend’s matchmaking skills were on point! When David and Gira got married in 1999, they celebrated both a civil and a Hindu ceremony in a beautiful setting in Princeton, NJ.
David and Gira have three children, all of whom have attended schools in the Marple Newtown School District. “My parents moved here,” explained Gira, “because they wanted my brothers and I to have a top-rated education. We all excelled in school, and David and I wanted the same for our kids.” Her brothers share the same sentiments, so the three siblings purchased their homes and started their families next door to one another, just as their parents had wished.
(L-R): Cole, Maya and Chels Thiruselvam
Photo by Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
Chels, the oldest of the Thiruselvam children, is a 2018 MNHS grad who now attends the University of Pittsburgh where he is pursuing a double major in History and Political Science. Gira said that from an early age, it was evident that Chels would take that path. “He’s an old soul who has been fascinated by history ever since I can remember.” In fact, Chels told his kindergarten teacher that he would be President someday, and for those who know Chels, that may very well happen! He has always been comfortable speaking in public and being at the political forefront. David said “Chels was the kid who, on Election Day, instead of sleeping in on his day off from school, he’d be up at dawn, to head out and work at the polls.”
Next up is Cole, a 2020 MNHS grad and now a Freshman at the University of Maryland. He is a sports enthusiast with a passion for football. He played on the defensive line all four years at Marple and received the Tiger Pride Award for exemplary behavior on and off the field while maintaining one of the highest GPAs on his team. Cole has an outgoing personality, which his dad says has helped a lot during his first year in college. “There were a lot of students who decided to stay home and learn remotely,” said David, “but Cole insisted on living on campus where he met some fantastic new friends.” Cole’s dream is to work for NASA someday, and he has declared a major in Physics with a minor in Computer Science.
Gira and David’s youngest is their daughter Maya. She’s a funny, outgoing, confident MNHS Senior who recently committed to attend Penn State University’s main campus in the fall. Maya is passionate about human rights and, like her father, will pursue a degree in English with a pre-law track. Her parents say that she has a competitive yet compassionate nature, which has served her well in high school. Maya just completed her final season as the Goalie for the Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey team; she was recently inducted into the Rho Kappa Social Studies National Honor Society; and she is currently Chair of the Mini-THON Committee, which will raise money for pediatric cancer research and treatment again this spring.
These three apples certainly didn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to hard work and following their passion! Understandable because David and Gira have given their children such wonderful examples of how they created their own paths. Both are driven entrepreneurs, supportive parents and dedicated volunteers in our community. In their spare time, David and Gira raise funds for the MNHS athletic department and the MNHS PTO. They’re always on the go, attending their kids’ sporting events and extracurricular activities.
The Thiruselvam Family at Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
Photo courtesy of Gira Thiruselvam
While all these familiar experiences and surroundings are comforting, the Thiruselvams also love excitement. In fact, their family motto is “Onto the next adventure!” — and their passports prove just that. It all began when Gira and David decided to take the kids to Europe when Maya was in first grade. Every year since, they’ve traveled overseas to explore, learn and experience much this world has to offer. They’ve been to England, France, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Czech Republic and Hungary — just to name a few.
David’s favorite thing to do is travel with his family but he has also checked off a few places on his own bucket list. A few years back, he traveled with some buddies to Pamplona, Spain, to spend his 50th birthday running with the bulls. On another trip, David and his buddies traveled to Tanzania in east Africa, where they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and then joined the Maasai Warriors in their tribal jumping ceremony.
The Thiruselvam Family at Church of Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia
Photo courtesy of Gira Thiruselvam
To get the most out of each international experience, David and Gira expect the kids to do some research. Prior to each family trip, the kids must study the culture, government and economy, and report their findings during family meetings. Typically, David and Gira decide the destination, but in 2018, they let Chels choose, as part of his graduation gift. Not surprisingly, his love of history brought them all to Poland and Russia, to tour the sites of World War II’s Operation Barbarossa. Cole’s pick for his 2020 graduation trip, to Japan and China, is unfortunately on hold for now, and Maya says she’s still deciding. No doubt that will be somewhere fun!
The Thiruselvam Family
Photo by Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
No matter how far this family may travel, they are always grateful to come home to Newtown Square. Gira and David agree that this community is full of families who share many of their values. “Living here has been a fulfilling experience,” Gira said. “Over the years, we have created many great memories and have made many close friends!” Sounds like the perfect place to unpack your bags.
Do you know a Newtown Square resident, family or nonprofit organization who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming magazine features by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.
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