Sharad Sood

Sharad Sood, age 27, died in Austin, Texas on August 26, 2010. Born in Austin on April 12, 1983 to Lal Chand Sood and Lily Sood, Sharad grew up in Westlake. He was gifted with natural athleticism and competitive soccer was his primary childhood passion. When he joined the Westlake High School soccer team, he immediately became a leader, starting for the varsity team all four years. Recently, in 2009, Sharad was named to Westlake's All-Decade Soccer Team. After graduating from Westlake High School in 2001, he attended Southern Methodist University, where he played soccer and was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. During this time Sharad was active with the Indian Students' Association, serving on the executive board as the Public Relations officer. In 2005, Sharad graduated from SMU after completing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. As a college graduate, Sharad worked in corporate sales in Washington D.C. where he mastered relationship selling to C-level executives. Two years later Sharad followed his career back to Austin, where he was eventually hired by Dell as an account executive. After receiving the "MVP of the First Half of 2010" award from his organization within Dell, Sharad was recently promoted. In his honor, that organization has created "The Sharad Sood Award" which will be given to the individual who embodies Sharad's spirit, performance, and attitude. Sharad cherished his time with his family and friends. After he moved from D.C., rather than living alone in Austin, he chose to live with his mother and father. Even as a busy young professional, he made it a priority to engage in his parents' and brothers' lives. Sharad approached his friendships with the same sensitivity and affection. Sharad did not just meet people; he touched people and drew them into his life with passion. Ever the adventurous spirit, he encouraged those he loved to experience the new and exciting. Sharad is survived by his father Lal, mother Lily, brothers Chetan and Rajesh, uncles Lall Singh Sachdev and Prem Banga, aunts Sheema Sachdev, Preeti Banga, and Vatsala Sud, numerous cousins in the US and India, and his dog, Bailey. Funeral services will be held Saturday, the fourth of September at ten o’clock in the morning, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar., Austin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Miracle Foundation, miraclefoundation.org. Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com