The Vivek A. Patel Foundation
Our beloved son and brother, Late Vivek Amrut Patel (1985 - 2009) of Cranston, RI, went to his final resting place at very tender age of 23 on February 22, 2009.
Born on October 28, 1985, in Norwood, MA, to Amrut and Champa Patel, he was the younger of two children. He was a 2003 graduate of Moses Brown School, Providence, RI and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008 with an Economics major. He was employed as a Strategy Analyst at Digitas Inc. in New York, NY.
He fought a losing battle against a paralyzing mental condition Bipolar Disorder for the past several years. In spite of ongoing professional help, this dreadful disease sapped vital energy out of his life and eventually he succumbed.
Despite this ongoing struggle, he always projected cheerfulness, kindness and sensitivity to those came in contact with him. The Faculty Award he received from his school read: “Perhaps more than anything else, we will remember you for the way you notice other people’s feelings.” He was an inspiration to many and earned numerous awards for his untiring volunteerism.
A volunteer to the core, helping others gave him the ultimate joy. He championed causes such as awareness and outreach for mental illnesses and AIDS and HIV. This past year he helped organize a formal AIDS gala fundraiser in Philadelphia that raised over $8,000 for AIDS research. For two summers, he was a camp counselor at Camp Safe Haven, a camp for young children with AIDS. He collaborated with fellow Management 100 Team members to promote and increase readership of a community service magazine.
His belief in principles of nonviolence had led him to observe strict vegetarianism.
Deeply spiritual, he had recently joined Calvary Episcopal Church in New York City.
He leaves behind a legacy of selfless service in spite of the many challenges he faced during his short visit to the planet Earth. If we remember him for nothing other than his example of selflessly serving others, his legacy will not be lost.
This is a memory of Vivek that we will always love and cherish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-Nuxp4htDU
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