Satyendra Huja, a former mayor of Charlottesville who worked in city government for 33 years, passed away on Feb. 14 at the age of 83.
Huja served two terms on Charlottesville City Council, from 2008-2016, and was the mayor from 2012-2016.
A native of Kohat, India – the city is now in the nation of Pakistan – Huja was the first Indian Sikh mayor of an American city.
Prior to his time on City Council, Huja worked in city government, starting as the Director of Planning, then Director of Community Development, and finally the Director of Strategic Planning.
Huja oversaw the construction of the Downtown Mall, which will mark its 50th anniversary in 2026. He also led the Historic Court Square revitalization, University Corner revitalization, and Starr Hill neighborhood revitalization, and initiated the construction of Northeast Park, Star Hill Park, River View Park and the Rivanna Greenbelt.
Prior to his time in Charlottesville, Huja served as Deputy Director of Planning and Chief Planner in Portsmouth, and as a City Planner with the Rochester (N.Y.) Bureau of Planning.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, March 1 at 3:00 pm in the Unitarian Universalist Church on Rugby Road.
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Chris Graham
