Daily Archives: August 4, 2011

Roger Maughn

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Extended thoughts about Sameer. Please write as much as you like.

I knew Sameer through his brother Shalin, whom I have been a friend with since elementary school. At school age, being two years younger (the age difference between Sameer and Shalin) can be huge. This never was an issue with Sameer. From elementary school, all the way through entering the business world, he always treated any of Shalin’s friends as one of his friends. As a senior in high school, he was always able to get Shalin’s sophomore friends invites to the big parties. Sameer went away to one of the top colleges, but when he came home on breaks, he would never think he was better than anyone else, even though we all knew he was. When he landed his first job in NYC, he was very helpful in giving advice for us guys getting ready to graduate from college. But most of all, I remember Sameer being his usual class act as the Best Man at Shalin’s wedding. He was Shalin’s blood big brother, but he was like a big brother to me, and Shalin’s other friends. How wonderful this world would be if we could have more people like Sameer. I am very lucky to have known him.

Jana Susan “J.S.” Paley

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When I met Sameer
9/1/1982

Where Sameer and I spent time
Amherst College…we got particularly close Sr. Year having taken many Econ classes and the class every Liberal Arts Student fears, Accounting, together. We also had a great time together Senior Week as a guest of my roommate, Liz Shoemaker, at her home in Newport…we crossed paths later in life as well and I am so happy he was at our 25th reunion with his family.

What you remember and appreciated most about Sameer
There were not too many Florida kids in our Amherst Class and that gave the two of us common ground from the start. But it was not til Senior Year that I really got to know the guy behind the grin…At school, kids knew how fun loving and smart Sameer could be, but a smaller group knew him as someone who could debate almost any issue of current events or politics from any viewpoint at the spur of the moment. Sameer also had a creative side–debating teachers left and right challenging whether ir not the theories they held to really had merit. Honest truth, I figured Sameer would be our first classmate to be a Presidential advisor! He certainly had one of the great financial policy and business minds of a generation–to wit his resume will attest.

But he also knew how to leave that side go and to enjoy…he never would leave a friend in a scowl post a friendly debate where he probably knew better, but rather would say, “Let’s get food.”

I am so glad to have met his family at our Amherst reunion—it is now for old friends to tell bits and pieces of Sameer’s life to his children so they mmay grow up to be an extension of his ambition and his love.

My prayers are with the family…
Jana Susan Paley
PS I attached some photos of Sameer, Mike kaufman, John Brinitzer, and Liz Shoemaker from our Senior Week Adventure in Newport and a Photo–since our class is a bit ageless, I am not sure which reunion it was from.

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Laura Steuer – Amherst class secretary

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Dear Sameer’s family,

I am the current class secretary for Sameer’s Amherst class of ’86, and wanted you to know that there has been much memory and reflection about Sameer on our class email listserv; as classmates learn about the Amherst online memory page for Sameer, they will begin to direct their postings there so you can share in them as well. Know that we are all thinking of you at this unbelievable time.

– Laura Folkman Steuer, Amherst ’86

Edwina Litwin Hoffman, Family Friend

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Dear Mr. and Mrs. Shah and members of the Shah family,

The loss of a beloved son is such a searing, wrenching experience that it leaves one
wondering as to the justice in God’s order. Comfort is gleaned from
the waves of love emanating from those who cared for Sameer. It is
clear from the messages pouring in from around the world that Sameer
sowed great love wherever he went. There are no words to ameliorate
your pain. An extraordinary son, father and human being has left us,
but the love he shared with all of us will always be remembered. I am
grateful to Sameer and the Shah family for the friendship and kindness
shared with Josh and the Litwin family. Know that we are with you in
your pain.

My condolences,
Edwina Litwin Hoffman

Billy Warren, Satellite High School

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What you remember and appreciated most about Sameer

Although I probably haven’t seen Sameer in at least 20 years, I look at picture in my office every day that he is in. This photo represents a time in my life when my friends meant the world to me. Sameer was one of those friends.

Most likely one of the smartest people that I have, or will ever meet in my entire life, but also enjoyed every minute of life when I knew him. From what I hear, that never changed much as his life went on. He will be missed by many.

billywarren

Sameer, Billy Warren, Josh Litwin, Ken Sandlin and Scott Sottile, at Scott's house in Indialantic FL

 

Ninad Shah, Family Member, India

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Sameer was my oldest brother in the family , obviously being the oldest and smartest made me idolize him from a very young age, however I never really got down to telling him the same, which I repent today.

I always envied and aspired to travel the world like him and I still pursue that dream, it was inculcated in me probably passively by him during is multiple visits to India as a boy and then a adult. Today being an adult myself and I can easily say he traveled the length and breadth of India in local buses, trains, taxis, he could have easily taken flights but he insisted on doing so cause it gave him a sense of belief, I admired this about him and always will.

He relished life and all that it had to offer, i still remember like it was yesterday how Sameer would sit for breakfast with us on a table reading his novels and only finish his breakfast at lunch time,our domestic help still remembers him for it. He ensured he chewed and savored every morsel of food he ate, I guess that explained the glow on his face throughout.

His commitment to take up unusual tasks and pursue them were legendary, he compiled a family tree of 4 generations for us around a decade ago when computers where still not freely available, and collecting data of over 600 people isn’t easy even today. My son and grandchildren and generations to come have Sameer to thank for this invaluable contribution.

But what made Sameer , Sameer was his naughty and lively knack of picking up the most routine statements or topics and glorifying them into a full blown public debate between family and friends, many a times people would wonder why they were fighting over such trivial things and then would look at Sameer who would be enjoying the entire drama from a distance with a mischievous smile like a amused playwright enjoying his final act.

There are tons of other fond memories I have of Sameer, maybe someday I can share them with my niece and nephew.

Vipul Shah, Family member, India

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Where Sameer and I spent time: During his last day of the last trip to India.

What you remember and appreciated most about Sameer

He was a role model in my life and a great aspiration. Can still not get over the fact that he has left us..I’m sure only physically but never from our heart and mind..

Extended thoughts about Sameer. Please write as much as you like.

He was always a role model for me from the child hood. Always hearing about his excellence in whatever he pursued, great personality. He was just one year elder to me.

We spent his last day in Mumbai during his last trip to India together. It was a Sunday and we met over lunch. I asked him where and what would he like to eat and without any hesitation or pause came the suggestion Sizzlers @ Kobe! One of his favourite eating places in Mumbai. Both of us had different Agenda’s for that afternoon and we were supposed to split after finishing lunch. It was almighty’s kindness that made both of us change our minds and we landed up spending the entire day together. The fondest memories I have of him is all the quality time we spent on this day eating, shopping, having coffee and finally seeing him off at the Mumbai airport late in the evening..

We had never spent more than 2-3 hours at a stretch any time because I lived in the suburbs and he would be staying in down town with our other family members whenever he visited Mumbai.

From the time my mother left us in 1999 and now Sameer, I have always wondered why the almighty takes away those people in such an untimely manner whom he has selected when they were alive to become the driving and helping force in the lives of all the friends, family, relatives and everyone, and create a vacuum in our lives?

Sameer shall always be with us in our hearts.. He is very much here.