To the Jain family,

It was just last weekend that a classmate of mine from Hunter High School told me of Ahamindra's passing. He and I were classmates at Hunter College High School, and he was truly one of the most remarkable people I have encountered.

His brilliance was balanced by a remarkable maturity and kindness. He was firm, strong, and his unforgettable smile made everyone feel at ease around him.

I wish you all the strength in the world as you go through the period of mourning this loss. And the reflection of what you already know: He was a gem. He will be remembered always.

With blessings and wishes for peace, David Salvage, M.D.

I took Chemistry 112A & B with Professor Jain during the fall 2001 and spring 2002 semesters. I was from a different department, and those were the first chemistry classes I had taken at Berkeley. When I entered the 150-person class on the first day, I didn't know a single person, but I felt like Prof. Jain knew me. He made a special effort to make me feel comfortable in class and with the other students. In return, I studied especially hard in those classes to not disappoint him but make him proud. I believe I had succeeded.

Through Professor Jain, I learned to have confidence in myself. He was one of the best teachers I had ever had, and I often think of his style when presenting. I will be forever grateful to him.

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Jain,
I am writing to convey to you my sincere condolences on the loss of your precious son, Ahamindra. I knew him in high school. He was a kind and gentle soul, a truly fine human being. he will be very much missed.
Rabbi Edward W. Ferrell

I remember clearly the afternoon I first met Professor Jain at Swarthmore. This was during freshman orientation and I had just turned in my math placement exam. As I headed out of the building, the person walking toward me in the hall stopped abruptly with a delighted exclamation of "Susan!" I checked to be certain --- but, no, I had never in my life met this person. This was Professor Jain, who had memorized the names and faces of all the incoming Swarthmore students eligible for his Chem10H class that fall.

And what a blast that class was! To him, the front of the classroom was a stage. He enthusiastically overdramatized everything. Against the background of a single-high chalkboard, his chalk would occasionally fly higher to include 6" or so of the wall above. And then again --- this time with a different color of chalk!

I Googled his name today to see where time had taken him and his family. When some of the top Google hits spoke of his death, I dared to hope that those related to someone else who shared his name. Yet, when I opened this guestbook, the personality and joie de vivre of Professor Jain were instantly recognizable in the wonderful stories and memories others have left.

To his family, my deepest condolences --- but also my thanks for having shared this man with the Swarthmore community all those years ago.

To the family,
I am very sorry for your loss. I only recently learned of his passing from the Technology Review. My only experience with Ahamindra was as a teaching assistant in organic chemistry at MIT when I was an undergraduate in 1985 but he made such an impression upon me that I wanted to share my remembrances with you. Although it was only one term, I have never forgotten "Aha" --as he told us to call him. The reason that he is the only TA that I still remember after 24 years was because of two incredible attributes of his. One, he was a tremendous teacher. I literally can still see him at the blackboard with his multicolored chalks showing how bonds are formed in chemical reactions with his precise script. He made it clear, logical, and understandable—he made it alive. The second was his personable and friendly manner. He indeed knew everyone's name in the section and remembered them. He said his goal was to be able to walk down the infinite corridor one day and be able to say "hi" to 100 people that he knows. I also remember him predicting that Barry Sharpless (the organic course professor) would someday win the Nobel Prize for his work with stereoselective reactions (he did win it in 2001). My deepest condolences.