LIVE WEBCAST OF SAMEER’S SERVICE
We will have a live webcast of the Memorial Service for those of you who are unable to attend. The webcast will start at 3:00pm PST Saturday March 29th, which is 3:30am on Sunday March 30th in India.
You can see the recorded webcast here - Sameer’s Memorial Service
March 29th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Dear Reena, Uncle, Aunty, and Prashant,
I can’t describe how sad I was to hear of Sameer’s passing. He was an amazing soul and his memory will be with us forever. Neil loved him like a brother. My entire family loved him. He was such a genuine person. I feel extremely lucky to have known him. We will miss him greatly and we will pray for all of you and for Sameer during his journey.
Thank you for broadcasting the service. Sameer touched so many people and for those who could not attend, we appreciate you letting us be part of the ceremony.
May God watch over you,
Anjali Butani
March 29th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Thank you for letting people across the world be a part of Sameer’s celebration of life. It brought as many tears as it did laughs. I could see from people’s words today and the one time that I met him that he was beyond his years and could see that his purpose in life was to inspire people. Although I only met Sameer once I remember thinking what a kind soul he is. I told Kruti, (I’m a friend of Kruti’s) wow Reena really met a gem of a guy but I guess it all makes sense b/c she’s not to bad herself. I remember having one short memorable conversation with Sameer and Reena. We were walking to leopard lounge for Kruti’s birthday and began talking about relationships and I said yeah I’m dating this guy but I don’t know what I’m really feeling and he said you guju girls are really tough to get and we all started laughing. I still can picture the only moment I spent with Sameer like it was yesterday. I guess he must have had some sort of impact on me b/c I have a really bad memory! I can see by what people said today that he had that same sort of impact on everyone he met. I feel fortunate that I met Sameer even if it was only once and even more fortunate that his impact in my life has been able to give another person in need of bone marrow another chance at life. As I mentioned earlier post, because of Sameer I recently found out that I am a match for a young boy.
Thank you Sameer.
Love,
Rupal
March 29th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Yes I was one of those lucky people to know Sameer. Indeed he had an amazing personality and intelliegence. I was very sad to hear about Sameers passing..although I could not leave my own family to attend the service my thoughts and prayers were there with you all. He will always be remembered…may he rest in peace.
Nikki & Pankaj, Shaan & Ahren
March 29th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Thank you so much for broadcasting the memorial service live over the internet. I was able to watch the entire thing from my home in Atlanta. He was truly an amazing individual.
Rest in Peace Sameer.
March 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Thanks for letting us view the service even though we cannot be there in Seattle.. May his soul rest in peace..
We couldnt see the video completely as the streaming was bad.. When you get time, we would appreciate if you can post the video online..
Take care and god give you the strength to overcome this loss..
N
March 30th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I unfortunately could not watch it so I will be awaiting being able to watch it once its uploaded to the site. I am so sad I wasn’t able to meet Sameer, he really seems like a true inspiration and I really look up to both him and Reena. I will forever be thankful for him coming into my life as he is truly an inspiration and has allowed me to find something I can become passionate about. I hope that I am able to meet even more people to look up to and be a true inspiration to me as Sameer has from afar.
JSK
March 30th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Thank you so much for letting us be a part of the service since we were unable to go to Seattle. I’m really glad Mom and Dad were able to make it. It was truly a touching memorial. I can see why Sameer is so loved by everyone. He was the kind of person in life that we all hope or want to be. Hearing about his courage, kindness, and positive attitude was so inpisiring. I know I’ll never have right words to console his family but I will continue to pray for the peace of his soul and the strength for Kumar Uncle, Reena, Sunita Aunty and Prashant to cope with the loss of such a great person.
Deepa and Mauricio Solorzano
March 30th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Dear Friends and Family of Sameer Bhatia,
I am very sorry to hear of the incredibly sad news. I was a friend of Sameer’s in San Francisco.
May Sameer’s soul rest in peace. He will always be remembered my many people.
Warm regards,
Sheela Vishwanath
March 31st, 2008 at 4:04 am
Uncle, Aunty , Reena and Prashant
I dont know what to say in words that would console you better, i never knew sameer but would have loved to know someone like him, i suppose this is hard to say and understand but god takes people like samir first because he is/ was just like an angel- he cared for others made others laugh full of energy- these qualities are hard to find in a human therefore he had to have been an angel. I saw the memorial and i cried. I cried because it made me think about love and made me apprecite what life is about. Kumar uncle you seemed tohave played a big role in both your sons lives and i hope that oneday i can be a great mother as you were a father to your sons through you teachings. Reena- you are right you should aprreciate love, we sometimes forget what we have until we lose that. day to day life goes in arguing and stress. Sameer was lucky to have you and you were lucky to have him- Things happen fopr a reason- you were chosen to be his guardian- and you fulfilled the role people should look at you as an inspiration. I dont think i could have gotten on that podium and have done a better speech then you because it came from the heart. I couldnt seep all night after the service it made me cry , even made me cry when i attended a party the next day- i felt like a member of my own family had perished. Reena / uncle you must be so proud to have had an incredible person in your lives and please continue to write here if you need to talk we are always here to listen to you as you are a family to us now. it would be nice if you could maybe have a book form of memorial and pics and distribute to ppl who would like them also if you could carry on with drives maybe carry of charities or events in sameers memory which you can later donate money to maybe kids with aml etc.
Reena be strong like sameer liked you- he always wrote that you were his Rock! so never change that!
Wish you all the best
Bucky and Family
March 31st, 2008 at 7:54 am
Dear Reena, Uncle, Aunty, and Prashant,
We can’t even begin to express how sorry we are to hear of Sameer’s passing. Our hearts are heavy for the loss and sadness you must be going through. We did not know Sameer personally, but his qualities, such as character, his strength, his unquestioning love for others, and his endless optimism, have come shining through over the course of these last few months that we have read your updates. In a sense, we feel like our paths have crossed and feel blessed for that. We hoped and prayed along with you through this journey, and now we pray with all of our hearts that you have courage to face this loss. Thank you so very much for allowing us to be a part of his memorial service from afar. It touched our hearts and impacted us deeply. Reena, Uncle, Prashant, and friends, your stories inspired us and your strength and grace is something we can only strive for. We can honor Sameer now by living each day to the fullest and live by his fine and shining example. God bless you. Sameer will always watch over you and protect you.
Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:57 pm
So sorry for your great loss. Sameer is an incredible inspiration to many.
Here is a quote that brought me some comfort when I lost someone close to me:
“Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow, but remember me in every tomorrow.
Remember the joy, laughter, the smiles; I’ve gone to rest a little while. Although my leaving causes pain and grief, my going has eased my hurt and given me relief. Remember me not as I am now, but as I used to be. Because I will remember you all and look on with a smile. Understand in your hearts, I’ve gone to rest a little while. As long as I have the love of each of you, I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.”
Sending healing prayers your family’s way.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Although I didn’t not know Sameer personally, I followed his progress through this website. For those of you that did know him personally, I am sorry for your loss. You were very fortunate to have known him. I was devasted to hear of him passing. Take comfort in knowing that he touched many people lives even though he never knew it. Reena, I am wishing you strength in this most difficult time.
My thoughts are with you,
Chanda Hidanovic
Fargo, North Dakota
June 29th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Dear Reena,
I am so sorry to hear about Sameer. I haven’t met you, but I am so happy to know that Sameer found true love. I met him at my cousin Arjun’s wedding in Canada some years ago. We had kept in touch on and off, but fell out of touch. I took it for granted that he would be in the Bay Area, so of course, when I am up there, I would give him a call. When I met him, he expressed how inspired he was by Arjun and Manisha’s wedding and to learn about my life with my husband. He wanted to find the “right girl.” He was always pursuing meaning, and we were instant friends. I am saddened to see that the world has lost someone as caring and outstanding as Sameer, but I am happy to know that he found you and he found the meaning he was pursuing.
Love,
Paira