Rishi Sharma

Rishi Sharma was an adventurous and fun-loving individual, always ready to strike up a conversation and befriend a stranger. He had a knack of finding out what people were passionate about and providing insight into it. He had an unparalleled sense of humor that was loved by friends and family. When we traveled as a family, Rishi was leading the pack. He could find his way around a city and knew exactly what the hot spots were. If we ever forgot the name of a place we visited or a tour guide we had, all eyes turned to Rishi: he had the memory of an elephant. He had a passion for history and geography from a young age - we stopped trying to compete for knowing the most capitals or remembering when certain wars began. This love culminated in an intense passion for seeing the world. He was a self-proclaimed wanderer, but he never forgot to bring back something for the family to see, from pictures to souvenirs to great tales. Rishi was an absolutely incredible chef and loved trying out new recipes while paying careful attention to what those around him might like to eat, from vegan spicy tacos to Thai curry. He enjoyed sharing his dishes with the people in his life and seeing their faces light up when they took that first bite. We will never forget Rishi's unique entrepreneurial spirit. Most people might leave old clothes or technology in their closets to become dusty and forgotten, but Rishi was quick to find these items, refurbish them, and turn them over as soon as possible. Rishi had a passion for environmental justice. From pushing us to start recycling in the home to donating to environmental causes, he was committed to seeing a more sustainable future for the next generation. This is why we are designating the Natural Resources Defense Council as the charity for friends and family to donate to in his memory. We chose this charity because they seek to protect elements of the earth that Rishi cherished and saw as basic human rights: clean air, land, and water. Learn more about NRDC here: https://www.nrdc.org/about Rishi was a wonderful son, brother, and friend to all who knew him. We will miss him dearly and keep him in our hearts forever.