Arunava Saha

Arun and I had a special relationship for many years.

This is a very sad news. Not only was he my classmate but also my room mate for over a year when we were graduate students at Northwestern. I send my condolences. He was a wonderful person.

I first met Arun, when he took my Watercolor class 2 years ago. After the class session, Arun kept in touch with me and he had decided to take private lessons to learn how to draw. Arun was an excellent art student and very enthusiastic about learning different techniques in creating art. We became friends and I enjoyed his hospitality and friendship. He even came to support me at a many Middle Eastern dance performance at the Williamsburg library. He

I first met Arun, when he took my Watercolor class 2 years ago. After the class session, Arun kept in touch with me and he had decided to take private lessons to learn how to draw. Arun was an excellent art student and very enthusiastic about learning different techniques in creating art. We became friends and I enjoyed his hospitality and friendship. He even came to support me at a many Middle Eastern dance performance at the Williamsburg library. He was very proud of his children and shared memories of his family with me. I will never forget his kindness and love for his family and friends! I will always cherish those outings and movie nights with Arun as well!
Arun will be missed!

Arun, we will miss you. I wish I had conveyed to you the true appreciation I feel for your friendship. Your kindness, warmth, hospitality, and intellect will sincerely be missed.

I only knew Arun casually at the SALT group and their he was well liked by all with whom he came in contact. He was always smiling and certainly was a favorite of quite a few of our female members. A pleasant, friendly man who will be missed by those of us whose fortune was to have him as a friend.

Rudy Stegmann

We just wanted to share our deepest condolences with the Saha family. We are thinking of all of you. Marcia, Ralph, Dave, Gina, and Lizzy.

I knew Arun through the meet-up group here in town. He was always so inviting, thoughtfully including many people to his parties, get-togethers, or other activities. He was inquisitive and truly interested in cultures other than his own, although he was more than willingly to share his culture with others.

Some people are described as knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. That was not Arun. Arun knew the value of those things most important in life... family, friends, building and maintaining relationships, living his life to the fullest each and every day.

I have never met a more gentle, kind and loving soul on this journey. Arun embodied all I know to be good in the world. Though demonstrably brilliant, he was also amazingly free of ego.

Some people are described as knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. That was not Arun. Arun knew the value of those things most important in life... family, friends, building and maintaining relationships, living his life to the fullest each and every day.

I have never met a more gentle, kind and loving soul on this journey. Arun embodied all I know to be good in the world. Though demonstrably brilliant, he was also amazingly free of ego. His work was his work. He loved it and I believe he did it very, very well, but it did not define him. Rather, he chose to be defined by his openess with others, the hand he extended to strangers and the smile he shared so indescriminately as he wove us all into the comforting fabric of his friendship.

That fabric is now rent. Arun is no longer among us, but he will remain with us always in memory and, I hope, no, pray, in our daily lives as well as we attempt in some small measure to return to the world what he gave to each of us... his smile, his laugh, his love and his friendship. May it be so.

Baraka Bashad, Arun my friend.

I can't count the number of parties, BBQ's, outings I've attended over the past few years where Arun was a guest as well. He was always fun to be around. He came to my home about a month ago for a wine tasting party. He didn't stay long because he had to get back to his son (such a family man), but now, I am so glad I got to spend that time with him, I wanted to have a

I can't count the number of parties, BBQ's, outings I've attended over the past few years where Arun was a guest as well. He was always fun to be around. He came to my home about a month ago for a wine tasting party. He didn't stay long because he had to get back to his son (such a family man), but now, I am so glad I got to spend that time with him, I wanted to have a pic taken with him not realizing that would be the last time I saw him. Happy to have that saved memory. His presence will truly be missed.

Regarding this picture... I can't remember where we were (a restaurant somewhere in W'burg), but whoever was taking it kept telling us to get closer because we weren't all in the shot, so finally, we all just scrunched our heads together. Dean was standing and leaning over, and Arun and I were sitting. The way the photo is cropped, you wouldn't know quite how we did that. ;)

I met Arun in the Williamsburg Singles Meetup group a few years back.

Regarding this picture... I can't remember where we were (a restaurant somewhere in W'burg), but whoever was taking it kept telling us to get closer because we weren't all in the shot, so finally, we all just scrunched our heads together. Dean was standing and leaning over, and Arun and I were sitting. The way the photo is cropped, you wouldn't know quite how we did that. ;)

I met Arun in the Williamsburg Singles Meetup group a few years back. I think my first Meetup with him was a road trip to The Byrd Theatre in Richmond to see "La Vie en Rose." There were about 6 of us who got together that night. We went to a small pub in Carytown after the movie. I sat across from Arun, wondering what this new guy, who just kept looking at me but not talking much, was all about. ;)

It didn't take me long to know what Arun was about. Brilliant, kind, sure of himself, thoughtful, compassionate, opinionated at times, quiet other times, generous, loving, fun to be with, tender hearted. He liked to laugh and joke around, and flirt just a little too, all in the spirit of fun. ;)

I wore my hair up one night when I went to Pub Quiz at Weekend Pub in Newport News (a game our Meetup group participated in), and he passed me a note from across the table and told me I looked really nice. I looked up and smiled and he said, "You do," as if it was just a matter-of-fact statement. I've never been very secure about my looks, and it really touched my heart that he would do that.

He was usually to the point. He gave good, concise advice. He was sure of himself, and sometimes a little cocky, but not really... I can't explain how he did that. He'd be very sure of himself and opinionated, and in the next breath almost down play his opinions at times. He wasn't overbearing. He was understated. He was a quiet leader. He led by example. He never bragged about his accomplishments, which were many. For being as brilliant as he was, he never made me feel insecure if I didn't know something.

He sent me flowers when I was sick. He organized a birthday get-together for me at one of the taverns in Colonial Williamsburg and had the 'locals' in costume come to the table and sing "For she's a jolly good lady... and so say all of us!...." That was a very special memory. He was very generous when we were all out somewhere, often buying an appetizer for everyone, or buying someone a drink. He would call me when I wasn't at a Meetup and say, "Hey, where are you?" He would just call to say hi. It's a nice feeling when you are remembered and thought of. Arun did things like that.

He posted many interesting and entertaining Meetups on our web site. He opened his house to his friends for Super Bowl parties, Oscar parties, Christmas parties (even though he wasn't Christian, but it didn't matter to him; it was just a chance to celebrate with friends), movie nights, dinners, etc. He always made great food; his tandoori chicken was incredible. He really was the consummate host. His home was a warm, friendly, welcoming place to be.

Arun knew how to live his life. He didn't sweat the small stuff. He didn't judge others. He didn't complain. He knew how to have a good time. He had his priorities in order. He was responsible. He put his children first. He got involved with and enjoyed many activities and associations. He sought out things that were good. He made the world a better place.

Arun wasn't a member of my church or of any church, but every time I think about one of my church's articles of faith, I think of him, because he so fully embraced life in this way:

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

That was Arun. He was a great man. I'm honored to have known him. I'll miss having him in my life.