My name is Josh Finken and I knew Amir from the year he spent working, yes on tank simulators, in Salt Lake City, Utah. During that time, I was a co-worker, roommate, and good friend. We kept in touch via email after he moved back to Manhattan. And last summer I was delighted to hear he would be moving to Palo Alto, as I too would be moving to the Bay Area at nearly the same time.
It is with deep regret, and shame on my part, that I am just now learning of his passing. It is clear Amir has many friends…back East, California, and across the world (his best friend Jonathan Wolfson to whom I apologize again for my insensitive correspondence). As his time in Salt Lake was brief I am sure none of his Utah friends and acquaintances are aware of his death, nor might any of you know who to contact and how. With that I am probably the first of his Salt Lake friends to post here, however definitely not the last.
It was Amir’s (indeed, brutal) honesty in conversation that first drew me to him as a friend – his honesty and utter self-confidence. His honesty led me to discover the trait of his quirky, odd, yet amazingly insightful, philosophical commentaries on life. That is what I loved most about him. To read his posted emails and writings to friends and family resonates very deeply within me. Thank you for that. And thank you to those who have put this memorial website together.
Since I too am floundering for words, I will try to be brief. As I think back I recall some of our many conversations Amir and I had had simply as roommates, over dinner, or driving up Big Cottonwood canyon to go skiing. Truthfully, he wasn’t the most graceful individual to ever click-in to a pair of straight skis, but he loved it nonetheless. (I remember how he always wore powder strips, even without having received fresh snow for months.) I have very fond memories of my time with Amir in Utah. But in all it’s grand, vast space I see now that Utah was too small for Amir. You can imagine how a cultural and theologically homogeneous place might prove difficult even for a man of Amir’s presence, beliefs and vision. However, it was the thrill of singletrack biking through aspens, turns in knee-deep powder, the simple yet ethereal beauty, which touched him. I am positive of that. I know he loved the breathtaking splendor of the mountains of the West.
It pains me greatly to lose you Amir.
I’ll miss you,
Josh