The Indian American husband of a mother killed in last week’s catastrophic avalanche near Lake Tahoe has broken his silence, remembering his wife as a devoted parent and fearless adventurer who “spent her final days doing what she loved best.”
Caroline Sekar was among nine people killed when a powerful avalanche swept through a backcountry ski area near Castle Peak in California. Six of them identified as a group of mothers who had embarked on what was meant to be a multi-day ski trip.
Her husband, Kiren Sekar, shared an emotional tribute with The New York Times, describing his wife of more than 20 years as “authentic and unabashedly unfiltered.”
“Caroline spent her final days doing what she loved best, with the people who loved her most, in her favorite place,” he said. “She was with me, her children and our puppy, and then on one last adventure with her sister and close friends, who she now rests with.”
Read: Indian American man hit by car dies (February 7, 2023)
The Sekars, like many Indian American families in Northern California, built their lives around both professional achievement and a deep embrace of the outdoors — a hallmark of the Bay Area’s culture. Kiren is the chief product officer at Samsara, an Internet of Things company.
Kiren said the couple had encouraged their children to cherish adventure-centric activities like hiking, skiing and bicycling.
“The kids and I are shattered by this tragedy,” Kiren said. “But even in our grief, we are committed to living a life that would make her proud — a life filled with the adventure, kindness and dedication to others that defined her.”
Caroline was part of a close group of mothers that included Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse and Kate Vitt — women their families described as “passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains.”
The NYT also reported that Clabaugh and Caroline Sekar were sisters.
Pete Atkin, Carrie’s husband, said his wife had been living her dream life in the Lake Tahoe area before the avalanche struck.
In a joint family statement, loved ones said they were “devastated beyond words.”
“They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors,” the statement read.
A community vigil is planned for 6 p.m. local time Sunday in downtown Truckee, and a community grief support listening session is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time at Sierra College, KQED reported.
An interfaith service is also set to take place at the Church of the Mountains on Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. local time.