Memorial – Aadi Arya Karthik

When the whistle blows …

A touching ceremony at Georgia Tech celebrated the life of Aadi Arya Karthik, highlighting the university’s traditions and honoring the contributions to the Georgia Tech community.

Today we attended the “When the Whistle Blows” in honor of Aadi Arya Karthik. It is an annual Georgia Tech memorial ceremony honoring students, faculty, and staff who died in the previous year. The stated purpose is to remember, celebrate, and mourn community members lost during the previous year.

We had perfect weather for the function today. Ángel Cabrera, President of Georgia Tech, came by to talk. We went from the Student Success Center to Harrison Square Plaza with a bagpiper and the Georgia Tech Wrecker leading the way.

A candle was lit in honor of AAK.

It concluded with the steam whistle blowing once for AAK. The blowing of the Georgia Tech steam whistle, installed in 1888, is the university’s oldest tradition. It acts as an audible clock, blowing at five minutes ’til the hour from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, signaling class changes and for a couple of special occasions including this one.

It was a beautiful ceremony for a beautiful child that left their mark at Georgia Tech in their own quiet way.

Thank you to Georgia Tech for a touching, classy function.

Remembering Aadi Arya in Isle of Skye, Scotland

Small marker for Aadi Arya Karthik left at The Quiraing in Isle of Skye, Scotland.

The first one was left just outside Keystone Ski area on Keystone Gulch Trail

Aadi Arya Karthik spent time in and enjoyed the outdoors. This would have been a place Aadi Arya would have loved being in and would have hiked with us. We wanted to honor that memory by placing a small wooden marker, with AAK written on that, in a spot with a beautiful view of snow, mountains, and the sea. Unfortunately, Aadi Arya never got a chance to visit Scotland but it still felt fitting to us to place one of the markers.

1st birthday after …

Aadi Arya’s dear friends from Berkeley, West Point, Georgia Tech, and Cox group joined family friends and family to honor Aadi Arya Karthik on their birthday. Many others reached out to support us. Truly grateful for all the support. Hope these expressions of love support them where they are.

Many of us visited Aadi Arya’s grave after that function to mark the anniversary of the Saturday of the burial last year.