I recall meeting Reddy, Ruku and Anu for a Flamenco show in Pleasanton, Ca years ago. It was an exciting show as flamenco dancing is full of mystery and beauty. The Cherukuri family thought so too. Reddy was generous with his praise for the artistry of the dancers. It was wonderful to be in the company of people who share as freely as the Cherakuris. Many men won’t talk about how they enjoyed dancing like that recital, but Reddy did. I thought his openness made him more of a man.

My father was the king of storytelling. He loved reading Telugu comics and novels in his younger days; loved watching movies and television shows in his later years. He could spin a tale out of any experience in life, be it re-telling a childhood anecdote or narrating one of his favorite Hindi film plots. Countless memories come flooding to mind...………...from Hindu mythological stories he used to share with family to silly song and dance routines from his favorite old black and white Dev Anand movies. I remember a time on our vacation in Barbados when my father inadvertently left behind a videocam recorder on a submarine ride we took and he convinced the crew of the submarine to give us a second ride on the submarine just so we could retrieve our camcorder. We got to see amazing marine spectacles on that second ride we never would have otherwise. He didn't let language or cultural barriers stand in the way of his will to communicate. Another time in Kauai he mistakenly got into a similar-looking rental car that belonged to a photographer while we were driving around Waimea canyon and by the time we located him, he and the British photographer had become friendly exchanging stories of their personal experiences during the Indian independence era and stayed connected with each other for a long time after that wonderful trip to Hawaii. He loved regaling his little granddaughter with stories of his childhood, particularly, his grandmother who lived with his family when he was growing up in Srikakulam and how fond she used to be of him and how she protected him from the disciplinarians of his youth. He was a fun-loving mischievous young boy very fondly remembered by his cousins who to this day have amazing anecdotes to recount to us about those memorable childhood experiences! Till his last days he maintained the same childlike wonder of life and sense of humor so well remembered by his friends, students, colleagues and relatives. Needless to say that he passed along this love for story telling to his children and we are proud to carry on that tradition! On this 5th year of his passing our family remembers him with boundless love, affection, respect for teaching us true values in life- it doesn't matter what your background, race, gender or generation is, binding friendships are what matter the most in life so live every moment to its fullest. Fondly cherishing and sharing our memories of this extraordinary father, loving husband and highly principled man, Anu & family, July 12, 2020