Sarosh Sanjay Sheth

Sarosh Sanjay Sheth, 21, of Warren, Ohio, passed away tragically on July 22, 2026, at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. A private service was held.

Sarosh was born on November 2, 2004, in Warren, Ohio; he was the beloved first child of Drs. Sanjay and Ramona Sheth. From the moment he entered the world, he brought extraordinary joy to his family. The nurse’s first words to his mother were, “Wow, look at his long eyelashes!” Those eyelashes remained one of his most endearing features throughout his life.

From an early age, Sarosh was inquisitive, curious, and full of joy. He developed a love of books and reading as a young child, and that love eventually grew into a lifelong fascination with words and learning. He attended Goddard School and Sense of Wonder Daycare before beginning Rainbow Preschool, where he especially enjoyed the Pumpkin Walks and Halloween parades.

Sarosh’s education continued at John F. Kennedy Catholic School, where he was a proud member of the Class of 2023 and truly represented what it meant to be a Kennedy Eagle. He was an exceptional and remarkably well-rounded student. He won the school spelling bee three years in a row and later won the Trumbull County Spelling Bee. His love of words extended beyond competition; he became fascinated by their origins, meanings, and definitions.

At Kennedy, Sarosh was a Speech and Debate state qualifier and an active member of Kennedy Theater, both on stage and behind the scenes. He played saxophone and piano, taking piano lessons for 12 years. He also discovered a passion for athletics. He was a multi-year letter winner in soccer, a member of the track team, and a two-time All-Ohio kicker for Kennedy football. He played both offense and defense in soccer and helped lead his team to the playoffs. The Kennedy football team also reached the state championship game two of the three years he was a part of the team.

Sarosh’s athletic career was marked not only by talent but by determination. During his junior year, he tore his ACL in the first soccer game of the season and was forced to miss a year of sports. Rather than allowing the injury to define him, he devoted himself to rehabilitation and worked tirelessly to regain his strength. Even while unable to play, he continued to attend games and cheer for his teammates. His senior year was a testament to his perseverance as he returned to both varsity soccer and football.

Those years on the field also created some of Sarosh’s most treasured memories with his father, who served as the football team doctor. From the sidelines, his father watched proudly as Sarosh played and celebrated each extra point his son made. Those moments between father and son will forever be cherished.

After graduating from Kennedy, Sarosh continued his education at The Ohio State University, where he was studying neuroscience on the pre-med track. He was in his final year and was passionate about medicine, particularly neuroscience and neurodegenerative research. Having watched both of his grandfathers live with Parkinson’s disease, he hoped to contribute to research that could help others. He was part of a neurobiology research team at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and was diligently preparing for the MCAT, with plans to attend medical school and pursue his dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.

Ohio State was much more than a place of study for Sarosh. He embraced college life, Big Ten football, his friendships, and the many experiences that came with being a Buckeye. He was especially fortunate to attend Ohio State alongside two of his cousins, Roshan and Kiaana, with whom he made countless memories sharing classes and meals, studying together, and enjoying late-night adventures.

Sarosh’s accomplishments, however, tell only part of his story. Those who knew him remember far more than the student and athlete he was. They remember a young man who was kind, humble, compassionate, selfless, loyal, and deeply respected by his classmates, teachers, coaches, teammates, friends, and family. He brought tremendous talent to everything he did, but even more importantly, he brought character.

Sarosh had an extraordinary instinct to help others. If someone was struggling, he wanted to find a way to make things better. If someone needed a hand, he was there. He was a “yes” man in the very best sense of the word. Whenever someone needed help or simply needed someone to show up, Sarosh rarely hesitated. That generosity was evident from childhood. As an elementary school student, Sarosh quietly gave his lunch money to classmates who needed it. When his parents wondered why he continually needed more lunch money, he sheepishly admitted that he had been taking it from his mother’s purse. His intentions were so innocent that it was difficult to be angry with him. In junior high, when money disappeared from a teacher’s desk and another student was at risk of being blamed, Sarosh quietly replaced the money himself because he could not stand the thought of someone else suffering for something he could help make right.

He carried that same compassion throughout his life. He volunteered for many years at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, where he enjoyed meeting patients, listening to their stories, and learning from the people he encountered.

Sarosh was also disciplined and determined. He developed a strong commitment to fitness, lifting weights regularly and later discovered a love of running. After his ACL injury, running became particularly meaningful because there had been a time when he was uncertain whether he would ever be able to run comfortably again. He embraced running with the same determination he brought to everything else: He ran so often that he wore holes in his running shoes, and shortly before his final run, he had purchased a new pair he was excited to break in.

Sarosh also loved cooking. Growing up surrounded by his grandmothers’ cooking and weekly family gatherings, Sarosh came to understand food as one of the ways people show love. His experience working at Giorgio’s Restaurant deepened that interest. He enjoyed preparing healthy meals, meal prepping on Sundays, and, most of all, cooking for the people he loved. At Ohio State, he recreated the family dinners he had grown up with by preparing meals for his cousins and bringing everyone together around the table.

Family was at the center of Sarosh’s life. He loved his parents, his sisters, his grandparents, his aunts and uncles, and his many cousins. His family extended across Warren, Cincinnati, and around the world, and he cherished every opportunity to be together with them.

Sarosh was fortunate to travel to several countries during his 21 years, experiencing diverse cultures, traditions, and ways of life. He embraced every adventure with curiosity and an open heart, creating memories that will forever remain with his family. Yet, no matter how far he traveled, he always reminded us that the best part of any journey was being with family. He once asked, “Why do we travel anywhere we can’t visit family?” That simple question captured how deeply family mattered to him.

Sarosh shared a particularly close relationship with his sisters, Saumya and Safiya. When Saumya was born, he was a proud older brother who loved her endlessly. Ten years later, when the family welcomed Safiya, Sarosh immediately embraced his role as her protector and confidant. He lovingly called her “SaBaby,” spoke with her every day, and was always there when she needed advice or comfort. Whenever he visited home from college, he made sure to take her for ice cream and spoil her because he adored her.

His relationships with his cousins were equally special. Many described Sarosh not only as a cousin but as a brother and best friend. He and his cousin Sarina were born only a few months apart and grew up side by side, sharing birthdays, holidays, friends, family gatherings, school events and milestones. Sarosh and his cousin Roshan, born just 13 days apart, created memories that lasted throughout childhood and into their years at Ohio State.

To his younger cousins, Sarosh was often the big brother they could count on. He gave advice, helped with decisions, picked them up, showed up when they needed him, and somehow knew when to help without ever needing to be asked twice. He had a way of making people feel safe and cared for.

His friendships were just as meaningful. Friends who had known Sarosh since elementary school remember his humor, his curiosity, his loyalty, and his ability to remain a constant presence through every stage of their lives. Even when friends struggled, Sarosh was there to encourage them, push them outside their comfort zones, and help them become better versions of themselves. He maintained those friendships throughout college and continued to make time for the people who mattered to him.

Sarosh had many interests that brought him happiness. He loved cars and could talk endlessly about their design, engineering, performance, and smallest details. He loved Marvel and the Avengers, sports, music, and good food. But perhaps what he loved most was simply being with people. He had a rare ability to connect with children, teenagers, adults, and older generations alike. He listened, engaged, laughed, and made people feel valued.

Sarosh was fiercely loyal, and he was never judgmental. He had a genuine ability to see the good in people and rarely had an unkind word to say. He was humble and never defined himself by money, possessions, or accomplishments. He was much more interested in experiences, relationships, and giving to others.

Sarosh was also just beginning to make plans for his future. He talked about travel, career options, family, and the life he hoped to build. He was excited about his final year at Ohio State and about having his sister Saumya join him on campus. He looked forward to sharing his love of the university with her, attending football games together, helping each other succeed, and continuing the family dinners that meant so much to him.

The future Sarosh envisioned was filled with promise, but his life was tragically cut short at just 21 years old.

Since Sarosh’s passing, his family has asked the question that has no answer: Why would something like this happen to someone so kind, generous, compassionate, and full of promise? The thought that has brought some measure of peace is that perhaps Sarosh was simply an old soul. There was something about him that seemed beyond his years—a wisdom, kindness, and understanding of people that made him feel as though he had been here before. Perhaps his purpose in this world was one that he was able to fulfill in just 21 years. But that does not make his loss any less painful, nor does it make 21 years long enough. He had so much more to give, so many more people to love, and an entire future still waiting for him. We will always believe that Sarosh left this world far too soon. Still, his family finds comfort in knowing how much love Sarosh gave during the years he was here and how deeply he was loved in return.

Sarosh leaves behind an extraordinary legacy—not simply through his academic accomplishments, athletic achievements, or future career he dreamed of pursuing, but through the people he touched. He leaves behind the lessons he taught, the laughter he shared, the meals he prepared, the books he loved, the music he played, the friendships he nurtured, and the countless times he simply showed up for someone who needed him.

His greatest legacy is the character he carried through life: kindness without expectation, generosity without recognition, determination without complaint, and love without condition. Sarosh means “angel.” To the many people who loved him, that meaning has taken on an even deeper significance. He will forever be remembered as a bright, gentle, humble, and compassionate young man whose life brought light and happiness to so many.

Sarosh is survived by his parents, Dr. Sanjay Sheth and Dr. Ramona Sheth; his beloved sisters, Saumya Sheth and Safiya Sheth; maternal grandmother, Dr. Sudha Mehta; paternal grandparents, Dr. Yogesh Sheth and Mrs. Usha Sheth; maternal uncles, Dr. Monal Mehta (Kausha) and Dr. Rajan Mehta (Preeti); paternal aunts, Drs. Sheffali Nadler (Sergio) and Atty. Shibani Massacci (Dante); and his cousins, Dr. Amar (Ashley), Anand (Greta), Ameesh, Anuj, Roshan, and Preena Mehta; Dr. Nikhil (Shelly), Atty. Nolan (Marissa), and Nathan Nadler; and Dylan, Sarina, and Shayna Massacci. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Arun Mehta.

Sarosh was deeply loved, will be deeply missed, and will never be forgotten. His family and all who were fortunate enough to have known him will carry him in their hearts for the rest of their lives, grateful for every moment they were given with their beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, and friend.

Memorial Contributions, Memorial donations for Sarosh can be made to John F. Kennedy Catholic School at https://www.warrenjfk.com/ support-us/memorial-honor-gift. The Sheth family will be working with the school on scholarship and other opportunities to memorialize Sarosh at Kennedy. Donations can also be made to the Neuroscience Scholarship Fund (318325) at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center College of Medicine. Gifts may be made online at give.osu.edu/sarosh or by mail to The OSU Foundation PO Box 736096 Chicago, IL 60673-6096.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Yuhasz Family and the administration, staff and families of the Warren John F. Kennedy upper and lower campuses for their service and support during this difficult time. We are also deeply grateful to Sarosh’s immediate and extended family, our friends, patients, medical colleagues, St. Joseph hospital staff, and our office staff for their continued support, thoughts, prayers, and dedication for allowing us to honor his life and legacy.

A Celebration of Life honoring Sarosh will be held in November, around his birthday, to celebrate the extraordinary life he lived and the love he shared with all of us.

Arrangements by Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home 126 West Park Avenue, Niles, Ohio 44446.