Pratik Pandey, a beloved friend, colleague, and member of the Mountain View and tech communities has died. Pratik was just 35 years old when his life was suddenly and unexpectedly cut short in the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 20th, 2025.
A passionate software engineer, Pratik had been working at Microsoft since 2020, where he was known not only for his brilliant mind but for his kind spirit, quiet strength, and deep sense of dedication.
He was someone who worked hard, gave generously of his time, and approached every challenge with thoughtful resolve and humility. But above all, he was a compassionate soul—a warm and steady presence in the lives of all who knew him.
Pratik was also a devoted soccer enthusiast, whose love for the game reflected the same passion and joy he brought into his everyday life. Whether on the pitch or behind a screen, he carried himself with grace, integrity, and a quiet spark that inspired those around him.
His sudden passing—discovered on Microsoft’s premises between 2 and 3 a.m.—has left his friends and the community in shock. Compounding this grief is the troubling delay in notification:
Over 42 hours passed before his death was formally shared, prompting calls for a full investigation. The community has respectfully requested District Attorney Jeff Rosen to thoroughly examine the circumstances to ensure transparency and accountability.
In this moment of unimaginable loss, our hearts are especially with Pratik’s grieving family in India, who now face the unthinkable task of saying goodbye to a beloved son from afar. Efforts are currently underway—with the help of local authorities, the funeral home, and the Indian Consulate—to expedite the repatriation of his remains, so his parents can receive him with dignity and perform his final rites in accordance with their traditions.
To know Pratik was to admire him—for his intellect, his humility, and his unwavering kindness. His absence leaves a void that can never truly be filled, but his memory will live on in every life he touched.
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