Alex always played music, usually edm, when I studied at his house. One soundcloud mix became my "comfort mix" that I would listen to during academic crunch times. I hadn't listened to it for a while, but last year I tried to find it on soundcloud and I couldn't. Even though it must have been 7+ years that he showed it to me, I gave Alex vague descriptions of it and he said he kinda remembered it!  I ended up digging through the dj's facebook page, because he had, in fact, removed it from soundcloud. I didn't get a chance to tell Alex I had found it, but I wanted to share it and other music he shared with me over the years. Of course, several of the soundcloud mixes have been taken down. He really prided himself on finding talented obscure artists! 

My favorite part is the Sound of Silence track. I listened to it at the beginning of my drive and at the end when I came up from LA for his service. When I drove by the freeway exit I would have taken to get to him, that part played ❤️ 

https://djsvet.com/2017/11/sv…

https://soundcloud.com/ennja/…

This one was a particular favorite of his, he'd actually sent it to me multiple times: 

https://soundcloud.com/mihkal…

https://soundcloud.com/handso…

https://soundcloud.com/darude…

https://soundcloud.com/dubvir…

https://soundcloud.com/iio/se…

https://soundcloud.com/alon-b…

https://soundcloud.com/maitre…

https://soundcloud.com/aerosp…

He sent this one on Natasha's birthday 

https://soundcloud.com/immort…

https://soundcloud.com/cncbea…

https://soundcloud.com/thenau…

https://soundcloud.com/thenau…

https://youtu.be/KSMCybhA8ho?…

https://youtu.be/HK0rx8XLjGQ?…

https://youtu.be/fX-fR3Xo9FQ?…

https://youtu.be/tSL5-wxgvFY?…

https://www.youtube.com/watch…

https://www.youtube.com/watch…

https://www.youtube.com/watch…

From Stargazers to Starships  - the astronomy textbook which Alex edited and illustrated: 

https://www.ck12.org/book/phy…

Alex authored and illustrated two chapters on thermodynamics and significantly revised chapters on electricity, magnetism, Newton’s laws, and other topics; and authored a complete solution manual for an AP Physics textbook:

https://www.ck12.org/book/peo…

https://www.ck12.org/book/peo…

Authored a simple introduction to modeling random walks in Python:

https://www.ck12.org/book/ck-…

Alex and I would often have lunch together during our free periods at Ward Melville High School. We'd take our sandwiches to our designated spot - a big, flat rock that was tucked away in the woods at the Setauket Millpond. We'd spread out, watch the sun glint off the water, and chat about everything from our classes to our relationships. He was kind, always interesting, and had a brilliant mind.

I'm honored to have been friends with you Alex, I'm so sad that you have left this world.

Dear, radiant sky walker,

One of sacred fire,

Wise human as free will.

What beauty you awaken!

Through dreams of night.

We surrender to love 

Poems written morning of the memorial…in awe at similarities with Art’s spoken word poem with a sense of interconnected implicate order.

Rage until false systems shatter

Warrior for what most matters

Insightful visions matched in turn

Creative friendship ever burn

Nine flames shine so I remember

The precious gift in each other

Eternal stars that light the night

Ever guide towards truth and right

~~~~~~~~~

Your words destroy what’s outdated

Energy regenerated

That which needs to become renewed

Composted and transformed to food

Returning to serenity

Nine breaths restore the sanity

Integrity is essential

For gardens to be most fruitful

~~~~~~~~~

The halls resound with harmony

Of beautiful stability

Four stone pillars hold the temple.

Grateful for the wisdom apple,

From the baskets of shared picnic

We cherish each morsel epic

In bright conversation digest

When day is done we lay to rest

~~~~~~~~~

A shape begins to form within

The cloud dreaming of massive rain

Movement begins to burst stalling

Starting with just two drops falling

To channels of immensity

Potential conductivity

And when the dew has gone to frost

Like water, love is never lost

I'm sorry I couldn't make the memorial as I'm not in the US right now. Sharing a few memories here.

I knew Alex from grad school, and we lived in the same house together in Palo Alto for ~4 years. He was a remarkable person—full of joy and warmth, passionately converting anyone in earshot to his latest interest or enthusiasm. He was open-hearted, welcoming, and generous to all. He cared deeply for the welfare of others, and would good-naturedly heap righteous indignation on the parts of the world which didn't live up to his strong sense of justice.

He had a wonderful sense of humor. He delighted in sharing a pun, a particularly absurdist turn of events, and in finding comedy in unlikely circumstances. His favorite novel was "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole, which he read, and then immediately and with great vigor insisted that I do so too. Coincidentally I finally took his advice this past Christmas break, 14 years late, just before hearing of his passing. I can see why he loved it. I regret not being able to thank him for the recommendation.

I look back on those years with great fondness, and am a better person for having known Alex. My deep condolences to his family. We've never met, but he spoke lovingly of you, and was clearly so proud of his sister, Natasha.

Dominic

I met Alex around 2009 and one of my favorite memories from around this time is going on a guided Chinatown walking tour together. We laughed about how undeniably nerdy it was, yet we were both surprised by how much we enjoyed it. We stayed friends over the years, and a few years ago he even reached out to laugh about having stumbled upon the very same Chinatown map from that day.

I will remember Alex for his kindness, intelligence, curly hair, and excellent taste in music. He left a genuine and lasting impression on my life, and I know he will be deeply missed.

Reading everyone's beautiful words makes me so sad I did know Alex better. I spent my entire childhood with Natasha, Alex's sister, so he seemed like an older brother by proxy — an extremely cool and brilliant one. His passing is an immense and unbearable loss. I am so sorry and hope to remember him: whether through listening to amazing music he shared, the recipes he cooked or all the things he taught. 

Thank you to everyone who recounts their stories and lets the world see more of Alex. He will continue to be loved and so so missed.