Passings

Anne Goldsmith, previously of Surrender Community, passed away peacefully on 23 October, shortly after her 87th birthday in Clitheroe, England.

Roy, who passed away in Auroville on 6 November 2025 at the age of 76, came to Auroville from the USA in 1971. Roy had learned about Auroville when seeing an image of the Galaxy in a bookshop in New York.

Vladimir, who was living in Grace and working at the Matrimandir, passed away on 30 August at the age of 69. Vladimir was born in St Petersburg, Russia and joined Auroville in 1995.

Ricardo Martinez Delgado (New Creation) left his body on 26 July in Paris. He was 71. He will be remembered as a fine healer in kinesiology, joyfully serving the Spirit of Auroville.

Conductor and composer Eugeen Liven d’Abelardo passed away in Laren, the Netherlands on 18 August at the age of 75. Along with his impressive musical career, he was also known to be an enjoyer of life.

Colleen, partner of Jean from Two Banyans passed away at Marika home in Samasti, on 26 August.

Vijay (Vittorio Gresele) passed away on 30 August at his home in Baraka.

Nadine Fabret passed away in France on 7 August 2025 at the age of 59. A valued member of the Sve Dame community and a unique spirit, she could be warmly social yet also deeply comfortable in her own company.

Halyna (Galyna) Kubarchuk, living at Prayatna, passed away at home on 7 June. Her body was cremated on 11 June at the Auroville Cremation Ground.

Basile Vignes passed away on 12 June in his house in France, in the presence of his partner Claudine, his son Simon, his stepdaughter Djénane and close friends.

Lakshmi, the wife of Ulaganathan, left her body at her home in Kuilapalayam on 9 July after a period of illness. She had been working at the billing counter of the Pour Tous Purchasing Service in Aspiration for more than 28 years.

Julius (Juul) Trauwaen, partner of Magda, passed away at his home in Arati on 9 July. His remains were buried at the Auroville Burial Ground on 12 July.

On 17 May Dominique Parizot, an Aurovilian of French nationality, passed away in a hospital in Villenave d’Ornon, France, where he had gone to undergo medical treatment.

Boris, Auroville’s entomologist and nature lover, passed away on 22 April at Marika Home, where he stayed for the past few years. He was 87.

Merry, born in Vermont, USA, passed away on 30 March. She was 85. She officially joined Auroville in 1999, but was already involved 10 years earlier.

Anand Prasad passed away on 8 April. Born in 1957, he studied at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

Walter was born in Stuttgart, Germany, on 7 December 1950. His childhood and youth were difficult but he felt there was always a protecting hand over him.

André, one of Auroville’s early architects, arrived in Auroville in 1968, aged 26. On the invitation of the Mother, he started working with Roger Anger, Auroville’s chief architect, and was his first draughtsman.

It’s not easy to describe the emotion felt when stepping into a clearing in the forest, a magical place, perfect for hosting the portraits of 111 Aurovilians who have passed away in recent years.

Daniel of Tanto (Daniel Emdin) left us suddenly on 4 March 2025, due to cardiac arrest. He was 77 years old. Daniel came to stay in Auroville in 1977, after having visited a few years earlier.

Jean-Claude Bieri passed away at his home in France, Pyrenees-Orientales, on 11 March. He was 79. He lived with his partner, Marie-Jo, and was the father of two daughters born in Auroville, Hebaragui and Mindelai.

Stephanie left her body in Frankfurt on the night of Sunday, 10 March, after a long journey battling with her health, surrounded by the love and care of her family.

Shipra Di from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram passed away on 2 January at 2:35 pm in the Ashram Nursing Home. Born in 1935, she spent her early years in Delhi and Shimla.

Donald “Don” Kelman (91) passed away on 30 January 2025 at his home in the Prarthana Community in Auroville. He had valiantly fought dementia for several years with the support of his loved ones and a community of dear friends.

Joya Diane Skye left her body on 19 February. Born 13 April 1945, Skye (known as Diane from the early days), arrived in Auroville in May 1970 with her partner Philip and unborn child Lunaura.

Manuel Thomas, a long-time friend and well-wisher of Auroville, left his body peacefully in his sleep during the night of January 26th. His passing is a great loss for Auroville and for his many friends and admirers.

Long-term AVI Germany board member Thomas Dreyer passed away on 6 January after a long and serious illness. Thomas was the main project manager of the German Weltwärts volunteers programme, supported by his wife Birgit.

Born in Montreal, Canada in 1950, Jean-Marie arrived in Auroville in 1998. He lived in Siddhartha Forest where he passed away on the night of 31st December 2024, 74 years old.

Dr Federico Mayor Zaragoza, a former member of the Auroville International Advisory Council, passed away on 19 December. A scientist and professor (biochemistry / pharmacy), Dr Mayor was Minister of Education during the first period of the current Spanish democracy and presided over UNESCO as Director-General for twelve years.

Victor Plotnikov was born in 1954 and grew up in Moscow, Russia. Since 1993 he had been living in Certitude, with his wife Galina. His son Nikita was born in 1998 in Auroville and all three lived as a family till his last day.

Karuna Periyaswamy, who was born in Kuilaypalayam, was only 14 years old when he joined Auroville. As a child, he had once met The Mother at the Ashram, as part of a school visit, and offered flowers to her.

Richard Pierre Pérez, who passed away on 17 December, was born in southwestern France and spent much of his life in Paris with his partner Marie Christine.

Navroz Mody, environmental activist, died in Pondicherry on 20 December 2024. He was 79. Born and raised in Bombay, Navroz was the only son of Kersasp and Rati Mody.

Marco Feira passed away in his house in Sharnga community on 26 December at the age of 74. He had been suffering from cancer. Marco joined Auroville almost 30 years ago.

Jean-Luc Buro passed away on 13th November, while in Dharamsala for a film festival, reportedly due to heart failure. He was 70 years old. Originally from France, Jean-Luc lately lived in Surrender and was a cherished and active member of the community.

Auroshastri was born in Pondicherry at Cluny Hospital on July 4, 1975. His father Gerhard asked Nolini for his name and received Auroshastri, meaning “he who has knowledge of the divine law.”

J. Jayaraman, Jairam for those who knew him, joined Auroville at a very young age in 1970. He was born in Alankuppam (1959) and his childhood in the village had been a difficult one.

Maggi Lidchi-Grassi, an esteemed Friend of Auroville, passed away on the 30th of September 2024, in the early hours of the morning at her residence behind Fertile, at the age of 94.

Vaishali Jain, a radiant 27 year old young woman, known to her close friends as Vishu, left her body on September 1st due to a traffic accident.

Aurienne Fator passed away on September 1st in the USA because of a stroke. Aurienne was born in Auroville on Dec 29, 1971 and was given her name by The Mother.

Soham (Jacques C. H. Philippeau) passed away at his home in Transformation on 19th September, 2024, due to cancer. He was 73 years old. Soham spent some of his younger years in Corsica on an isolated goat farm, where it was hard to get even essential amenities.

Marry, also known as Marretje Kroon, passed away in Kalpana on 16th September, 2024. She was 76 years old. Marry was born in the Netherlands and joined Auroville in 2007.

Agia Ram Lamba, the father of former Working Committee member Hemant Lamba, passed away in his house in Aurodam community on August 2nd. He was 87 years old.

Danielle de Diesbach, a friend of Auroville who for more than 20 years has been coming to Auroville for six months a year, left her body on the night of August 18th in her home in the south of France.

Yuval (Govert Jan van den Eijk) left his body on August 25 at the age of 77, at the Mahalakshmi Home for the elderly, surrounded by members of his family.

Kuppammal, a long-time resident of the Grace Community, passed away on August 3rd. She had been living and working at the Grace Community for over 40 years along with her husband, Janarthanan.

Bindu Mohanty, one of the contributors of Auroville Today, passed away on July 28th in a hospital in Germany at the age of 56.

Long-term Aurovilian Goupi (Jean-Pierre Bunel) peacefully passed away at Marika’s Home in the evening of Monday, June 24th. He had just turned 82 years old.

Kratu, an Aurovilian artist, passed away on July 7th. Kratu was born on the 2nd May 1942 in Lonigo, Verona, Italy. In his early twenties, his passion for art led him to live in various countries and to hitch hike around the Mediterranean.

John Mandeen left his body on July 7, 2024.