I first met Ashish in 1980, when he was 3 years old.  My favorite memory of that visit was when his mother let him go outside on the back porch completely naked.  He sat on the stoop with a round tray on his lap and delighted in playing with the water hose.

The second meeting was 4 years later.  Along with my two daughters, he, and his little sister (Sonia) played all the usual childhood games.  What truly amazed me was to see how artistic & creative he was while turning the knobs on the Etch-a-Sketch I bought for him.  I only wish I had taken a picture of the intricate buildings he created on that simple childhood toy.  I knew way back then that he was a very talented young man and would do great things in this life.

After coming to America to continue his studies, I was able to visit him—first in Ohio, then in Louisiana, and lastly in L.A.  He visited me (with his uncle) in Rhode Island also for Christmas in 1999. I was fortunate to attend his wedding to Rachel in Georgia, and saw him again after the birth of their daughter, Rhea.

Although we didn’t speak as often after he got married, I always felt a strong connection to him over the years. He was also the first person I called whenever I needed technical advice.

It was very disturbing when I heard about his diagnosis.  It was hard to believe someone so full of life could be diagnosed with a brain tumor and then suffer a stroke.  I visited him during his stay in the hospital and tried to keep the family calm and optimistic.  Unfortunately, Covid hit and restricted our visitation rights not long after I got there.

After he left the hospital, I was able to visit him at his home in Tucker.  It always amazed me to see how optimistic he was and how he worked so hard to improve during physical therapy.

In June of 2022, I visited him in the apartment his uncle set up for his parents to live in while in Atlanta.  There his parents took extremely good care of him.  He was always in good spirits while we talked, listened to music, and watched Wimbledon. 

Getting the news of his passing left me speechless.  How could this happen to such a wonderful, caring, and loving person at such a young age?  I will forever miss the special bond we shared over all those years.