111 MINNA GALLERY, SF | FRIDAY MARCH 27, 2009 | 5pm - 9pm

Join us to celebrate the beautiful life and memory of our friend, Sameer Bhatia. All proceeds will be donated to the Asian American Donor Program (AADP.org), a non-profit geared towards saving the lives of those affected by leukemia or other diseases treatable with marrow or stem cell transplants.

groove juice 2

Featuring
DJ Cheb i Sabbah
DJ Seven

In Memory of Sameer Bhatia

When: Friday 3/27 (5pm - 9pm)
Where: 111 Minna Gallery, SF

Entry: $10 donation, benefiting AADP.org

Today would have been Sameer’s 33rd (is 33 right?) birthday. Sadly, he never beat his battle with leukemia, but he lives on in our memories, conversations, and laughter. It’s accurate to say that birthdays, whether for him or his friends, were some of his favorite times. Namely because he loved to pull practical jokes. Usually a birthday party involved posting an outrageous listings on craigslist, dressing up unsuspecting birthday boys in crazy costumes, and simply getting to see his friends. To celebrate this day, some friends have written some of our favorite memories regarding Sameer’s past birthdays and surprises.

Shital
Ok my most memorable samba story is when we threw a surprise birthday in his own apartment. I remember that he showed up in his basketball clothes all sweaty in front of all of us who were dressed up in cocktail attire. It was so fun and I remember how much fun samba had and happy he was that day. He always loved celebrating birthdays with all of his favorite friends. I miss him.

Brady
Your story made me think about when Samba had a house party for an “apartment” he was house-sitting. When I arrived on Chestnut, everyone there was happy and lounging in the living area. I couldn’t get over what a great space Samba had scored. He was giddy to the point of goofy and was bringing me around the apartment asking what I thought? Then he kept on pointing to a picture of San Francisco and saying what do you think of this? What do you think of that? The point of course was that everything there was his belongings and that this wasn’t a friend’s place but his new home. I was totally clueless. Now I was in on the joke. I couldn’t believe that this crazy guy would go to such lengths for a surprise! He bought a house and didn’t tell anyone until they came over!! Baba and I went down the street and bought doughnuts marveling over Sameer’s ingenuity and how happy we were for him owning a house.

Nick
The birthday I remember is one in which I couldn’t make it but we planned this elaborate hoax to make Sameer think his surprise birthday party would be a day later than the actual event. I accidentally revealed the fake surprise birthday via email and he wouldn’t let me hear the end of it for revealing the secret. I guess he thought I was an amateur. Sadly, I didn’t get to see the look on his face when he was duped! The pranks just got bigger and more elaborate. The other party I remember is the Robert’s American Idol party where Sameer was Judge Randy. I remember how much fun we all had together.

Bhavna
October of 2003, just about a month after I arrived in England…missing friends and family. “Samba’s birthday” was written on my datebook for Oct 22nd. I waited to call “at the right time.” I was 8 hours ahead of the crew in San Francisco. It was late evening for them, finally…where I could get in on the fun for Samba’s birthday. They were playing the newlywed game!! Why wasn’t I surprised?!?! Of course, it was a fun and creative way to celebrate :) I can remember samba’s voice, and him saying the crew had taken over and made him ask and answer questions with 3 girls he doesn’t know. It wouldn’t have been such a birthday without the energy samba poured everywhere he went. I felt like I was there! All great memories of Samba, happy birthday to you!

Meeta
Tough guys wear pink! he wore that hot pink shirt what about the scary birthday where we had brunch and sohan and diya were petrified because sambakaka was looking like a woman! Diya couldn’t stop staring at him. I think he was wearing a Britney school girl outfit - um that one was scary.

Robert
Most memorable birthday? Oh my…where do I start?! Let me pick one that is a vivid memory in my mind, largely because of how he was dressed. Or rather, “how we forced him to dress”! We were all gathered for brunch one morning in San Francisco. Little did Samba know that it was for his birthday (though I’m certain he suspected). Oh, this wasn’t going to be just any standard brunch…not when we’re celebrating Sameer’s special day! Shortly after we sat down and ordered, a few of us ‘commanded’ Sameer into the restaurant restroom. We brought along our little bag of tricks which included the attire he was required to dress up in. It was complete with everything needed for a full-on embarrassment: a plaid skirt, blouse, eyelashes, and some gloss lipstick. Oh wait, and a blonde wig! That’s right - within minutes, he was transformed into a beautiful cheerleader. OK…scratch the beautiful. Aside from scaring the children at the table, along with the waitress and the other customers, it was the perfect Samba birthday celebration

From Samba to his friends after his elimidate birthday
i don’t know what i’m doing thanking all of you for what happened to me last night, but i do want to state (as i’m still drunk) that i have found some words in my vocabulareee to describe how i feel about you all…

cr-aaaa-zy!
n-u-t-s!!
in-sane!!!!!!!!

i seriously walked into dinner expecting a normal happy dinner. you know, like other people do on their birthdays. and i left feeling like a drunk hooker. (that has definitely happened before, but last night was different…) that was by far the craziest buuurrddday i’ve ever had. yes, it beats walking around sno-drift as dodo’s daddy carrying dodo onto the dance floor. yes, it also beats being surprised by 40 of my favorite intruders in my own apartment. and, oh yeah, it even tops salsa dancing with the hairy-chested Senor Samba last year. my god, i don’t think i’ll ever forget this one…let alone remember all of it.

….i also don’t know if i’ll be functioning properly again until tomorrow. still can’t get this damn studded collar off.

samba “the stud”.
Please feel free to share more of your birthday stories in the comments section.

Vinay and Sameer, we will remember you for your strength and courage. You are role models for all patients and families suffering from cancer. You remain in our hearts forever.

Please visit www.helpvinay.org for a message from his family.

You can see the recorded webcast here - Sameer’s Memorial Service

Sameer’s memorial service will be held tomorrow, Saturday March 29th at Mercer Island High School, Sameer’s alma mater. Please see below for details.

The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00pm. Please leave at least 15 extra minutes for parking and for settling in to the auditorium where the service will be held.

Program
Swamiji’s Service
Family & Friend’s Eulogy
Memories
Swamiji’s Closing
Refreshments

For the Memories portion of the program, we welcome you to share your favorite stories and memories of Sameer.

If you need directions or cannot find the high school on Saturday, please call Samit Patel at (856) 979-3448.

Location:
Mercer Island High School
Main Auditorium
9100 Se 42nd St
Mercer Island, WA 98040

Click here to get directions

As most of you know by now, Sameer left us this morning a little before 5 AM for a higher abode. He left after a valiant and positive struggle with leukemia and the subsequent accumulation of issues from multiple chemotherapies. We felt the love of many hospital staff members who had looked after him in their efforts to nurture him to health.

His last rites were performed starting at 3:30 PM by Swami Bhaskaranandaji and Swami Avikaranandaji  of the Vedanta Society of Western Washington according to the Hindu tradition, and the cremation followed. The sound of Vedic chants filled the chapel of the funeral home. We know he went in peace and he also looked at peace. We all  prayed and continue to pray for God to grant him everlasting bliss. 

The last rites ceremony was attended by the family and a few close friends who were able to fly from the San Francisco area just in time. We plan to hold a memorial service for Sameer on Saturday at 3 PM in the Seattle area. We will decide on the venue tomorrow and let you know further details.

Some of you have enquired if you could do something in Sameer’s memory. We request that you do not send flowers or other gifts. If you would like to make a donation in Sameer’s memory, we would suggest that you donate to any one or more of the following organizations: 

·         Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (http://www.seattlecca.org/aboutscca/donations.htm)

·         Vedanta Society of Western Washington (http://vedanta-seattle.org/pages/contact.html)

·         People for Progress in India, Seattle (http://www.ppi-usa.org/webroot/HTML/ContactUs.htm)

·         Unitus (http://76.12.48.180/sections/involved/involved_cu_main.asp)

All four organizations have played a meaningful role in Sameer’s life and growth as a person. If you wish to make a gift in the memory of Sameer, please include his full name as well as the following so our family can be informed of your gift:

 The Bhatia Family
8241 SE 67^th Street
Mercer Island, WA  98040

This will be a very short update since I need to go to the hospital in a few minutes.

We found out yesterday that Sameer had a stroke while in the unconscious state. The CT Scan shows that the right side of his brain is affected. This area controls motion on the left side of the body, etc. There is also swelling in the brain which can put pressure on the brain stem. We discussed yesterday a surgical option to relieve pressure in the brain and decided that it was too risky because of potential for bleeding due to inadequate blood counts, etc. I think and hope that the swelling was at its maximum when it was discovered yesterday and should therefore go down. He has been stable last night and the situation has not worsened.

The white blood counts are still zero and the rest of the situation remains the same. His vital signs are good due to his good physical conditioning before this illness. In summary, he remains in a serious but stable condition.

Many of you continue to visit to interact with him. We appreciate that all of you have followed the instructions for visitors to the transplant floor: no cold or respiratory symptoms for a week, no contact with anyone with a cold or respiratory symptoms for a week. We also think that it is not a good idea to bring children with you even if they are healthy. We have to be careful not only about Sameer but also about the other patients with compromised immune systems.

We continue to pray and hope for his recovery. I still believe that with the grace of God, he will recover. Thanks for your prayers and good wishes. Take care.

Kumar Bhatia