Remembrance: Joyce Krause

It was my great pleasure to have worked with your father for many years, both at IBM and at Verity, as an administrative assistant on his team. For over seven years, I was lucky enough to get to know the kind, thoughtful and funny man behind the persona of stern but fair leader that Ashok was at work. He made me laugh on so many occasions that I honestly can't even say what his best joke was. He was so genuinely likable and inspiring in an industry that can be so cutthroat at times. 

 

It is always extremely difficult to put into words what one feels at times like this. I'm grateful that I received Ron's, Dr. Fagin's, forwarded email and that I have a chance to express how shocked and saddened I am to hear about his illness and passing. Please accept my deepest sympathies for you and your family. I will always remember him and am very grateful to have known him.

If the memorial services are open to more than family, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to pay my respects and say goodbye to a good man who was always kind to me.

Remembrance: Kelly Berschauer

I am so sad to hear of Ashok’s passing.  I worked with him as a marketing manager in the Silicon Valley lab and he was truly one of my favorite people.

Incredibly smart, and always so generous and thoughtful.  I loved being able to help tell his and his teams stories.  He will be greatly missed by all of us.

I have attached some of my favorite photos of Ashok taken at our 20^th anniversary event a couple of years ago.

My heart goes out to you and your family at this sad time, I wish you all the best and the fondest memories of Ashok.

Remembrance: Dinesh

I am very sad to learn of our loss and am joining in grieving with you all. My deepest condolences, and may his soul rest in peace!

I guess God needed Ashok more in Heaven than he needed him here.

Ashok, What a man--Best in every way--friend, husband, father and grandfather; not to mention tons of other adjectives he can wear proudly.

Remembrance: Bernhard Kohlmeier

Ashok will be missed, what a loss of such a great man and friend.

I found the attached picture of the team from one of our visits to SVC last year. Great memories that will last forever.

Remembrance: Moshe Vardi

Losing a parent leaves a void that cannot be filled. (I lost my father two months ago, but he was 87, rather than 66.)

I "met" your father through his work in the late 1970s, when I was a PhD student. His work inspired much of my early research. He, together with Larry Stockmeyer (who passed away from cancer about 10 years ago), were among my early "heroes". Later I joined IBM Research and was fortunate to work direcly with him: http://epubs.siam.org/doi/abs/10.1137/0214049 When he moved to IBM Almaden in the early 1990s, he bcame my direct manager, until I left IBM in 1995.

I always considered your father to be one of the smartest person I knew. His intellect was just awesome.

Remembrances: Ariel Fuxman

I am deeply saddened by the news of Ashok passing. My thoughts are with you and your family in this difficult moment. Ashok was such a phenomenal person and a great inspiration to me. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of his team at MSR during the last two years.

Remembrances: Neil Sundaresan

I had recently heard about changes at Microsoft and had meant to reach out to him and someone told me that he was ill. I did not realize it was to be so short and I would miss out seeing him in his last days. I would always feel inadequate not reaching out to him on time just to connect. I have known Ashok since my Almaden days - first Ashok as the director of the computer science group, but then as a manager, mentor, friend, and guide. Even after we left Almaden I kept in touch with him and he was easy to reach out to, always prompt in his response, meeting for breakfast at Hobbies or coffee at Peets. He never let me pay on any occasion. He always treated me as his advisee, I could openly talk to him, seek his brilliant advice on career decisions, workplace advice, and chat about anything personal or professional. He was a gem of a person and I am going to miss feeling that there is an email I can send and would get an immediate response, followed by a meeting and intelligent conversation. Ashok was such a leading light for so many of us budding researchers, managers, entrepreneurs. His intelligence and acumen was second to none. Through Ashok I met all of you and was delighted to know you all. I and my wife, Nandini, met Ashok and Mala on a few occasions and were delighted by their company. Ashok was an amazing person to know, be mentored by, and be friends with. Our deep deep condolences, from both I and Nandini. May his soul rest is great peace and may god give you all the courage to deal with this great loss.