It is with great sorrow that we announce the unexpected and sudden passing of Sandhir Shantharam Kini - loving husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. He died on October 29, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sandhir was born in Bombay and traveled across India with his family during his childhood. As a child, Sandhir had many passions and loved adventures. He was naturally talented at any sport he tried, whether it was kabbadi, langdi, badminton, volleyball, or cricket and was known to be a “Kho-kho/peetul superstar” in Saraswati colony. A Sandhir “original game” of “holding onto windowpanes and any other projection while stepping on a thin ledge along the house walls and encircling the entire house” got him, his brother, and cousins into trouble. Throughout his life, he was an avid and knowledgeable sports fan, and at any time of the day could be found watching golf, football, basketball, tennis, and baseball. Sandhir attended boarding school at Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh. At Rishi Valley, he developed a love for nature while watching the sunset during ‘astachal’ and hiking up Cave Rock Hill. With an appetite for adventure, Sandhir could be found climbing up coconut trees. Falling from the tree and breaking his arm would not deter him from climbing again. After receiving a prestigious scholarship, he went to study in the USSR at a time when the Iron Curtain divided Europe. At 15 years old, he had to learn Russian and take classes at the same time. He was always an exceptional student and completed his postgraduate education in Computer Engineering at Tashkent Polytechnic University. He had the opportunity to travel widely throughout Eastern Europe. His adventurous life had only just begun. After graduating, Sandhir joined Unisys systems as a consultant on assignment in China, another language he had yet to learn. One of our funniest memories is a story Sandhir would tell about translating Russian and Mandarin in a shopping area for customers. Right place at the right time, that was Sandhir. Sandhir was a true linguist, with working knowledge of several languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, and Russian. He was a foodie especially when it came to Asian cuisines. He was a history buff, with an unparalleled fund of knowledge in an encyclopedic range of topics. Coming away from any conversation with Sandhir, you were guaranteed to have learned something new. Sandhir began his working career in the technology industry and traveled around the globe, finally settling down in the USA with his family where he made several lifelong friends. His curiosity and thirst for knowledge led him to a fulfilling and illustrious career as an engineer at DHL, the Air Express and Logistics company. DHL had operations in over 230 countries and was the most global company of its time. He worked in Hong Kong, USA, U.K., Malaysia, Czech Republic, Middle East…. And many many other countries. Always making friends with colleagues along the way. A global career at DHL led to Applied Materials where he and his colleagues transformed an organization into a World Class management team before retiring. Here he was repeatedly recognized for his contributions and talents. Throughout his career, he valued the relationships he formed with his colleagues. Sandhir retired from Applied Materials in 2021. Before, and especially during his retirement, Sandhir enjoyed spending time with his family, being outdoors, trekking his favorite backyard mountain while reveling in the native Arizona wildlife, creating memories on family trips, and most recently taking on the project manager role on a big home remodeling project. He established deep roots in the Scottsdale community and was a cherished member of the local Konkani and Indian communities. Sandhir is survived by his loving wife Sharmila, who was his constant companion. She traveled the world with Sandhir and they shared innumerable experiences during their lives together. Sandhir leaves behind his children Rahul and Mitali, the joys of his life. He is also survived by his mother Sharada, brother Asit, sister Veena, and many nephews and nieces. His extended family and friends across India, Dubai, and the United States also mourn his passing. The Kini family sincerely thanks you for sharing in their sadness and loss. Your thoughtfulness during this time is appreciated and will always be remembered. A funeral service and cremation will occur on Friday, November 3rd at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery.
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