Our Dear Dinesh, Just don't believe that you are now with your heavenly friends. How easy did you make it for us to settle down in Auckland is a fairy tale. Visiting you and Shama at your home was like visiting a pleasure home with Rajesh as the kind caretaker for Shreyas. Sweet memories abound and we wish that we had your writing skills to express them. We pray and wish for a 'Chirantan Peace' for you. We will miss that call at 2pm in the afternoon wishing us a Good Morning. With lots of respect, Sangeeta and Shrikant

We are very sorry we couldn’t pay our respects personally as we had an unwelcome visitor this week - both Jai and I tested positive for COVID. We felt privileged to attend the service via livestream, and to observe the strong bonds of family and friendship that Dinesh and Shama have created. We had the privilege of meeting Dinesh and Shama in 1988, when we arrived in Auckland with two children under 5. The small group of Maharashtrians and a couple of Amchi was very welcoming and helped us in those early days. The highlight of our week used to be the badminton games at Gillies Ave. We moved to Wellington shortly after, but we always got a phone call from Dinesh on New Year’s Day and then on 6 January, the birthday he shared with Jai. For years after we moved to St Heliers in 1998, we felt a sense of belonging when we spotted them walking to the beach, or at times on Tamaki Drive. We have always loved and admired Dinesh’s cheerful attitude and hearty greeting. Hail fellow, well met! You will be missed by all you’ve left behind, You leave behind a legacy of memories, friendships and joy and have touched so many lives. We will remember you, Dinesh.