My Friend Jai Rajkumar - 1979-2006 - A Great Personal Loss
- Thread starter Jon
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I'm really sorry to hear about this, sounds like he was close to a few people and closer than most thought
My good friend
Jai was like an older brother to me. I looked up to him as I grew up in his footsteps in our Indian community.
We will miss you. 'til the day we meet again, in my heart is where I'll keep you friend'
"To live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die"
-Kunal
Jai was like an older brother to me. I looked up to him as I grew up in his footsteps in our Indian community.
We will miss you. 'til the day we meet again, in my heart is where I'll keep you friend'
"To live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die"
-Kunal
I spoke to my father and he agreed that I should go and read this tribute to Jai at the viewing/funeral. So I'll be going to Canada to pay my final respects to Jai.
I would like to send my Condolences to Jai's friends and family, Azoogle and anyone else who has been affected by this tragic event. It is definitely a sad day when a young, bright and energetic person loses their life.
Although i didn't know Jai, I can tell from the outpouring of support that he must have been an incredible business person and most importantly a human being that touched others in the industry on a personal level.
Although i didn't know Jai, I can tell from the outpouring of support that he must have been an incredible business person and most importantly a human being that touched others in the industry on a personal level.
A goodbye to Jai
I have been reading all the kind words that have been said about Jai. I myself am still in shock, but it’s just now starting to settle in as our joint work efforts are painfully reminding me of his passing.
Jai was hired at AzoogleAds a few months before I was, but I knew my first day that we would get along. Jai, two other employees and myself went to lunch and Jai was the one that gave me the time of day….right away I recognized him as a great team player.
Let’s all be honest, there are a lot of people in this industry that are making good money and who let it go to their heads. Jai was NOT one of these people. Jai not only spent time assisting co-workers and clients, but he was also genuine. From Day One when we met and both worked closely together in Toronto, Jai was anything but selfish. Jai was definitely someone who thought “outside the box”. I can recall numerous nights when I would leave late after the office had cleared out and Jai was still there working away at his desk.
I can recall conversations with Jai after he was offered a position in NY and encouraging him to go as he mulled it over. As a native of the great State of New Jersey, I told him he would have been crazy to stay in Toronto with all the opportunities that NY had to offer. After all NY is the business capital of the world and Jai was made for it! I think now of how I encouraged Jai to go, I know what I had said to Jai was not a major factor is his decision, yet it weighs on me.
It was only a few weeks ago during Ad-Tech in NY that I last saw Jai. I had flown in the Friday before the show and we went out for a long lunch at an over-priced steakhouse around the corner from the office. We spoke about work as we usually did and our personal career aspirations. I recall vividly that Jai was so MOTIVATED to do well, he had so many ideas….we spent the whole time pinging ideas off one another much like we had during late night business calls and email exchanges. We were one hell of a productive team! More importantly, Jai was one hell of a good guy, 100% genuine!
The night before I left after Ad-Tech to go back to Toronto, we met up for dinner with a few colleagues and talked about business at dinner. We then went to a lounge and talked more business. I remember just before I left to go back to my hotel that we spoke about implementing an action plan to make good on our discussion. I put out my hand to shake his hand and Jai pulled me in for one of those “one of the boys” hugs…that was the last time I saw Jai.
We spoke multiple times after I got back to Toronto to follow up on the opportunities we identified and formulated action plans to implement them….it’s just now as many of the offers Jai wanted and the efforts are coming to fruition that it’s sinking in.
Jai, for your efforts, for your time and passion to work I thank you and am forever in debt to you. I have a void where our friendship was; at the office we are all aware of this void. People often say that those who move on to a better place will be missed. Jai will not only be missed, but he will be cherished in all of our memories!
To Jai’s family from the AzoogleAds family, our prayers and love.
Rest in Peace our friend and leader Jai.
I have been reading all the kind words that have been said about Jai. I myself am still in shock, but it’s just now starting to settle in as our joint work efforts are painfully reminding me of his passing.
Jai was hired at AzoogleAds a few months before I was, but I knew my first day that we would get along. Jai, two other employees and myself went to lunch and Jai was the one that gave me the time of day….right away I recognized him as a great team player.
Let’s all be honest, there are a lot of people in this industry that are making good money and who let it go to their heads. Jai was NOT one of these people. Jai not only spent time assisting co-workers and clients, but he was also genuine. From Day One when we met and both worked closely together in Toronto, Jai was anything but selfish. Jai was definitely someone who thought “outside the box”. I can recall numerous nights when I would leave late after the office had cleared out and Jai was still there working away at his desk.
I can recall conversations with Jai after he was offered a position in NY and encouraging him to go as he mulled it over. As a native of the great State of New Jersey, I told him he would have been crazy to stay in Toronto with all the opportunities that NY had to offer. After all NY is the business capital of the world and Jai was made for it! I think now of how I encouraged Jai to go, I know what I had said to Jai was not a major factor is his decision, yet it weighs on me.
It was only a few weeks ago during Ad-Tech in NY that I last saw Jai. I had flown in the Friday before the show and we went out for a long lunch at an over-priced steakhouse around the corner from the office. We spoke about work as we usually did and our personal career aspirations. I recall vividly that Jai was so MOTIVATED to do well, he had so many ideas….we spent the whole time pinging ideas off one another much like we had during late night business calls and email exchanges. We were one hell of a productive team! More importantly, Jai was one hell of a good guy, 100% genuine!
The night before I left after Ad-Tech to go back to Toronto, we met up for dinner with a few colleagues and talked about business at dinner. We then went to a lounge and talked more business. I remember just before I left to go back to my hotel that we spoke about implementing an action plan to make good on our discussion. I put out my hand to shake his hand and Jai pulled me in for one of those “one of the boys” hugs…that was the last time I saw Jai.
We spoke multiple times after I got back to Toronto to follow up on the opportunities we identified and formulated action plans to implement them….it’s just now as many of the offers Jai wanted and the efforts are coming to fruition that it’s sinking in.
Jai, for your efforts, for your time and passion to work I thank you and am forever in debt to you. I have a void where our friendship was; at the office we are all aware of this void. People often say that those who move on to a better place will be missed. Jai will not only be missed, but he will be cherished in all of our memories!
To Jai’s family from the AzoogleAds family, our prayers and love.
Rest in Peace our friend and leader Jai.
Jai's obit
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p218/jairip/jaisobit.jpg
(The link is for the obituary)
Jai was an amazing person and he left a legacy through all of us that he touched.... he will never be forgotten I’ll see a lot of you at the funeral
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p218/jairip/jaisobit.jpg
(The link is for the obituary)
Jai was an amazing person and he left a legacy through all of us that he touched.... he will never be forgotten I’ll see a lot of you at the funeral
Thanks everyone for the overwhelming response. I'm going to be posting Jai's uncle's information so those of you interested can send flowers and condolence cards to the family for their loss.
He was our affiliate manager too ... great guy. Our condolences to his family and to Azoogle.
Arthur
Arthur
The Letter That Was Never Sent
Jai,
I met you about 8 months ago. I was told I had a new account manager. This didn't mean much to me at the time. You called me to introduce yourself. We honestly talked nothing about business.. We talked mutual hobbies, music, and just in general the crazy industry. One thing I knew early on, you treated everyone first class. I knew that day that we would become good friends. You were one of a kind.
Over the course of the next few months you became increasingly part of my life. I'd wake up every morning to find 50 emails from you (did you ever sleep!?), and a fresh Aim box with the words "good morning!" I troubled you with a lot, I know, more often not even about work. The thing was, you were always there to listen. You were very thoughtful with wisdom way beyond your years. I really admired you Jai. I took for granted that you would always be on the other end of that Aim box or that phone call. I never said thank you, and I really reget that. Thank you for always being there Jai!
You came out a couple of weeks ago to hang out. It was probably the best weekend I've had for a long time. I never told you that, but I think and hope you knew that. When you left, I firmly shaked your hand goodbye. I really wished I had hugged you that day.
Jai, you became a dear friend in the very few months I knew you. You changed what I believed in and who I was. I will never forget you or the times we had. I am really missing you right now.
Love your friend, Darin
Jai,
I met you about 8 months ago. I was told I had a new account manager. This didn't mean much to me at the time. You called me to introduce yourself. We honestly talked nothing about business.. We talked mutual hobbies, music, and just in general the crazy industry. One thing I knew early on, you treated everyone first class. I knew that day that we would become good friends. You were one of a kind.
Over the course of the next few months you became increasingly part of my life. I'd wake up every morning to find 50 emails from you (did you ever sleep!?), and a fresh Aim box with the words "good morning!" I troubled you with a lot, I know, more often not even about work. The thing was, you were always there to listen. You were very thoughtful with wisdom way beyond your years. I really admired you Jai. I took for granted that you would always be on the other end of that Aim box or that phone call. I never said thank you, and I really reget that. Thank you for always being there Jai!
You came out a couple of weeks ago to hang out. It was probably the best weekend I've had for a long time. I never told you that, but I think and hope you knew that. When you left, I firmly shaked your hand goodbye. I really wished I had hugged you that day.
Jai, you became a dear friend in the very few months I knew you. You changed what I believed in and who I was. I will never forget you or the times we had. I am really missing you right now.
Love your friend, Darin
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