I met Ashish Sharma as a junior faculty hire to Emory University in October 2019. I was comforted by the warmth of his personality and the ease by which he was able to befriend people in the shortest time. I was able to speak to him only for a short few months before his diagnosis and to be able to see him before and during those challenging times were difficult and heartbreaking. Even during the most turbulent times, Ashish maintained his positivity and took extra care to make jokes and lighten up the room. I was fortunate to see him at a few occasions including in celebrating his birthday with his family members. Ashish is truly a special person who made this world happier and better in many ways. His presence will be sorely missed, but like me the people he touched along the way will surely carry on his memories and pass the friendship along.