Obituary of Ian Suri

Ian Nanak Partap Singh Suri May 8, 1991 – March 15, 2021 Ian Nanak was named with an I for Irving, his maternal grand-father and N for Nanak, the first letter of the first word of the first paragraph in the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book) opened at random, according to the Sikh tradition – The word was Nanak, the founding prophet of the Sikh faith. He was faced with a major life challenge at the tender age of four months, eventually requiring surgery to treat a urinary condition. He was a brilliant and precocious child full of torrents of questions and observations. Ian Nanak started as a Cub Scout, rising through the ranks all the way to Eagle Scout and, within its honorary society, The Order of the Arrow, he achieved the highest rank of Vigil by the age of sixteen. He worked as a computer consultant at Universal Studios Theme Park while he was a High School student. Later, he spent four years working in the Genius Bar at the Apple stores in Santa Barbara and Northridge. He attended the University of California Santa Barbara as a Religious Studies major and opened his mind to and respected various religious traditions. He was a free spirit who helped many people with many challenges of their own. He helped obtain shelter for the homeless, unemployment benefits for the unemployed. He provided computer assistance and graphics design services to many, including business partners. A friend even described how he saved her life by talking to her, calming her down through music and words of encouragement during a difficult period in her life. Ian Nanak leaves behind his mother Marissa and father Manindar, brother Kavi Suri, paternal aunt Robina Suri, maternal uncle Andrew Blackman, aunt Tanya Blackman, and first cousins Max and Randy Blackman, as well as innumerable friends and associates who all loved him and cherished his friendship. He will be missed forever and dearly by all who knew him.