Rukesh S. Samarasekera ’08

Rukesh S. Samarasekera ’08, of Orange, Calif.; Nov. 19. He was an avid writer and communications professional who used his skills to introduce the world to the LEED projects that are changing the way we look at buildings and what they can do, to the people behind those projects, and to the concept that we really can make the world better if we each do our part. He was the Storyteller and Changemaker of the U.S. Green Building Council and the mastermind behind the Changemakers podcast series that highlighted the stories of sustainability champions. In 2014 he hosted inspirational events for Catalyst Week. In 2015 he established Sarong Shorts, a company that worked with single mothers in Sri Lanka to produce upcycled sarongs. He also started the Comeback Collective, an educational and inspirational multimedia project celebrating tenacity in the face of hardship. He is survived by his parents, grandmother, a brother, an aunt and uncle, and a cousin.