Dan Shalmon
For friends of Raja: apologies for the long post, but I need to summarize the logistics over the next few days and ways that everyone can donate, communicate their condolences and otherwise support the Gaddipati/Power family. There are new items not covered in previous posts. PLEASE: as a personal favor to me, and for his ladies' sake-I would ask everyone with good memories or strong feelings to contribute to the memory book described below. Also, if you think friends of his might not see this post, and could write something, PLEASE forward.
Even brief or seemingly-minor-but-memorable interactions like judging or a lab session reveal something about a person's character. Lila and Sophia deserve to know how awesome their dad was. From experience, we know that books of memories and kind words from friends can really help kids who lose their parents at a young age.
The information below is split into two headings. First are ways to engage with his family or donate in his name, and second are logistics for the weekend.
This includes a few new items I haven’t covered in previous posts. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions.
Ways to engage and help:
· A scholarship fund is being set up for Raja’s daughters, Lila and Sophia. If you already donated money through the Meal Train website, at this link
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/0n204z, that money will be put toward the scholarship fund. For others who would like to donate, you can use the link above, or I will provide information specifically on the fund when I know more.
· Donations may also be made in Raja’s memory to Urban Initiatives, here:
http://www.urbaninitiatives.org/, with the note “In Honor/Memory of Raja Gaddipati”.
· We are coordinating a memory book – something with notes (typed or hand-written), pictures, etc. that will be bound over the next few months and given to Emma and the girls. There are a few ways to participate. At the visitation and funeral reception, there will be a memory box with paper, pens and markers, for people to draft personal notes, memories, etc. Also feel free to bring pictures if you have them. Alternatively, you can email notes, thoughts, pictures, etc. to
gaddipatifriends@gmail.com or, if you want to send hard copies by mail them, contact me directly. I'll give you my address.You can message me on Facebook, or email me - firstname.lastname at gmail.
· Friends are also putting together a slideshow for this weekend. The deadline to submit is noon tomorrow, and submissions can be made here:
https://www.tributeslides.com/up/191896019363.
This weekend:
· Visitation is 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie, IL. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Old St. Patrick’s Church, 700 West Adams Street, Chicago, with a reception to follow.
· For folks who will be in town on Saturday, we will have an ad-hoc gathering in the late afternoon/evening at the Hardy House. Here’s a link if you will be in town and would like to attend:
https://www.facebook.com/events/404081926694344/.
· Following the visitation at Sunday, we have a private room booked at il Porcelinno, 59 W. Hubbard Street, Chicago. The cost for dinner is $40/person plus gratuity, and there will be a cash bar. If you’re interested, here is a link so we can get an accurate headcount:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1953742098279140/.
- We have access to child care during the visitation/funeral, so if you need help with this, please contact me or Jeff Gaunt.
That’s all for now. Thank you to Jeff Gaunt, Tristan Morales, and the many others who are helping with all of the logistics, arrangements, ideas and support for Emma and the girls.
