DILIP SURANA

I have known Dilip for many years at the City of Miami. He was a wonderful co-worker and friend. He and I are the same age and I can't believe that he is gone so young. I will always remember him walking around the neighborhood after work and his cheerful greeting everytime I saw him. My great sympathies to his family.

Elaine Collett Buza

To Usha, Kavi and Kavita and to the brothers, sisters and other loving family members of Dilip Surana.

I met Dilip in 1998 when he transfered from the Internal Audit's Department to the City of Miami Department of Fire Rescue. Dilip joined our department and worked alondside me as my first and only staff member in 1998. Together, with Dilip's expertise of finance and accounting we managed all the previous disaster funds that were awarded to the City after the federal government granted FEMA disaster recovery funds to help recover and mitigate hurricane damage.

Although Dilip had an extensive formal education, held an MBA Degree and had years of public sector accounting experience, Dilip did not excel in his work or his life by virtue of his education and training. Dilip managed hundreds of millions of dollars on an annual basis and worked effectively with federal, state and local government representatives as well as members from more than 30 City departments in the City of Miami. The key to Dilip's success and effectiveness as a proffessional and as a man came from his core values and his love and respect for those who interacted with him on any given day. Dilip treated his fellow man the way he believed anyone else would want to be treated. No matter how large or complex the problem, I knew if I tasked Dilip with finding a solution he would come back with the mission accomplished.

Dilip was a soft spoken gentleman, who always sported a smile and greated young and old, new or tenured with nothing but complete respect. He truly treated all others the way he woud like to see his loved ones treated.

When major storms threatened Miami, Dilip maintained his responsibility for all disaster recovery funds but also worked with the rest of us preparing for the threat of landfalling hurricanes. Regardless of the task, Dilip would get it done. Many times, Dilip would finish a task before most people woke up in the morning. I always used to joke with him because he had already been in the office for 2-3 hours before anyone else arrived at work. Everyone knew how dedicated he was and if Dilip was tasked with making sure we had food and provisions in our emergency operations center we all were confident that food and provisions were not something we would need to worry about. Dilip was reliable and he was trustworthy and for all those and many other qualities he was deeply loved and appreciated by his collegues.

I worked with Dilip for more than 12 years. I never had a bad day with him and he always made me feel good regardless of how dire the economic conditions might be that we were facing, how tight the administrative deadlines were upon us or how imminent the threat of a landfalling hurricane might be. His service to the fire department,the city of Miami and its residents and visitors has touched countless persons and his efforts will continue to positively impact the financial and infrastructure wellbeing of the city of Miami for many years to come.

Dilip was a team player. Although we spoke of his family many times when we were at work, I didnt get to know his family beyond the many details he proudly shared in his stories. He cherished his children, he loved his wife and his was a special and strong bond that he shared with his brothers and sisters.

Today, while I listened to his fmily and friends eulogize him, it became crystal clear to me that the Dilip I knew and loved was the same man he was in his private life and at home. There was only one Dilip, the good, generous, dedicated and sweet gentleman that we all know and loved.

My life is much richer for having the benefit to have known and shared some years working alongside Dilip. I was his supervisor but he taught me something new everyday. He was a collegue and a friend.

To Dilip, thank you for being so good to us. To his family, thank you for sharing such a wonderful man with us at work. He made us all better proffessionals and he made us all smile.

Thank you Dilip, may God Bless you and forever keep you close by his side!

Your memor