In Memory of Veniamin: Help His Loved Ones

We gather to celebrate the life of a dear friend, Veniamin, a loving husband, a devoted father, a cherished son, and a beloved brother. Our hearts are heavy with grief, but also filled with gratitude for the time we were blessed to have with him.

He was a man of great character, kindness, and strength. His love for his family knew no bounds, and he always put them first in everything he did. His wife was his rock, his children were his pride and joy, his mother and brother were his pillars of support. He cherished each of them deeply and his love for them was unwavering.

He was a friend to many, always there with a listening ear, a helping hand, and a warm smile. He had a way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued. His presence brought light and joy wherever he went, and his absence will be keenly felt by all who knew him.

As we mourn his passing, let us also celebrate the legacy he leaves behind. The love, kindness, and strength he embodied will live on through his family and the memories we hold dear. May his spirit guide and protect them in the days ahead.

To his wife, his children, his mother, and his brother, we offer our deepest condolences and unwavering support. Know that you are not alone in your grief, and that his memory will forever be a source of comfort and strength.

Our friend may have left this world, but his love and light will continue to shine brightly in our hearts forever. Rest in peace, dear friend. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.

In this difficult time, we are coming together as a community to support his family in any way we can. We are reaching out to all of our friends, family, and supporters to help us collect funds for Veniamin's family to assist them during this challenging time. Any donation, no matter how big or small, will help alleviate the financial burden they are facing. Let's come together to show our love and support for Veniamin's family during this difficult time. Thank you for your generosity and kindness.

-Ilya and Family

It is with a heavy heart we say goodbye to our dear friend, father, husband, and son, Veniamin Gundarev. Beyond our personal connection, Venya made a profound impact on all those around him and his community. While our hearts are heavy with sorrow, we find solace in the knowledge that Venya’s spirit will live in the hearts of all those who knew and loved him. His love for nature and the great outdoors and a desire to improve the lives of those around him was infectious and he had the ability to make people feel special. He was a man deeply connected to the earth and his soul found solace in the great outdoors. Whether it was the thrill of a challenging hike, or the tranquility of a quiet mountain path or a simple joy of camping under the starlit sky, Veniamin felt just as at home in the wild, as he did behind a computer. He will be missed as a brilliant technologist, a loving father, and a caring son and brother. His greatest love was his family and friends, and he shall be dearly missed by all. Please join us not only in mourning his passing but also in celebrating his life.

-Leon and Family

Веня любил свою жизнь, и умел находить радости в любых мелочах. Совместная учеба, ремонт компьютера, переезд, поход в лес, поездка на рыбалку, поездка на лыжи... Все эти казалось бы, обычные и обыденные события были особенными и яркими, если в них учавствовал Веня. Он не был заводилой коллектива, он не был тамадой компании, но ему этого совсем не требовалось. Его широкая эрудиция, изобретательность, а также внимательность и умение слышать и слушать людей оставляли позитивные и добрые чувства. С ним было интересно и легко в любой обстановке так как всегда и везде он мог найти и принять решение. Веня жил быстро и, к сожалению, ушел слишком быстро... Светлая память...

-Mitya and Family

Venya was a man of many virtues. Most notably, he had a big, open, and loving heart that allowed him to project unstained sincerity and faithfulness in his relationships, in his actions until the end. Whether we had realized it or not, this is what in many ways defined him, his essence, and drew us like a candlelight draws moths at night. I am certain that all of you who new him closely can attest to how great of a friend, a father, a husband, a brother, or a son he was.

Also, he loved life. Venya had a wanderlust mixed with a craving for adventurous and adrenaline-pumping activities. As a partner in many of his most extreme adventures, I was lucky enough to witness some of the moments that defined his being. I would like to share one of them:

At one point, in his early 20's, he was in search of what other bad-ass weekend hobby or activity to try. Somehow, after numerous debates (and thorough research of course!) skydiving seemed to be like a possibly good fit. So, here we are, sitting all the way in the back of a small rattling plane somewhere 10,000 feet up in the sky at 6:30am ready for our early-bird jump. I look at him, scratch my head and ask: "are we really in a plane, about to jump off?" He answers - "Yeah, I suppose.... but it doesn't feel like it... maybe I just didn't wake up", all the time maintaining indifferent facial expression, looking at other hyper-excited jumpers, and gazing out of window....

After the jump, with huge smiles on our faces, we come to consensus that it was cool, but somewhat lame and not enough to justify doing it "for fun" consistently; now it is finally time for some real fun!

Fast forward 4 hours - we are rock climbing in Gunks, the renowned East Coast rock climbing mecca, and just enjoying nature and beautiful views, at times dangling off the 100 foot cliffs tied to the rope and belaying each other. Smile on his face, mutual feelings of excitement, adrenaline-packed rush that makes one's mouth dry and heartbeat race, echoing into head, all spiced with invasive primal fears fighting against all the preparation we put into making this possible, and REALIZATION that you are fully living in the moment and own it...

Such experiences, to a big extent, filled his younger years. They were an indispensable part of him, his being.

RIP dear Friend!

- Egor and Family